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Grant Support

Action in rural Sussex are currently responsible for administering the following grant funding streams:

West Sussex Community Care Grant Fund

The aim of the fund is to provide support and social care for the more vulnerable members of rural communities. Such initatives could include Lunch Clubs, pop-in mornings/afternoons, Care Days, Village Care Directories, community bus or volunteer car achemes etc.

The fund can help with a one off payment towards start up costs, the purchase of equipment or volunteer expenses.  Although there is no minimum or maximum, the average Grant in West Sussex is in the region of £100 - £350.

Click here for details and if you would like further information or to discuss any possible ideas please contact:

Nicola Dudley, Village Care Administrator

Tel: (01273) 407301 Email: nicola.dudley@ruralsussex.org.uk

COMMA The Community Aggregates Fund 2009 to 2010

Action in rural Sussex is once again working with Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) to deliver COMMA Communities Aggregates Fund, to benefit communities affected by quarrying. Communities across East and West Sussex can apply for grants of between £3,000 and £20,000 to support community projects and amenities. AirS and ACRE are delivering this grant on behalf of Defra, funded by the aggregates levy on quarries.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted using a COMMA application form, which can be downloaded from www.acre.org.uk/sustainabledevelopment_comma.html

Once completed, please send the form to: 

Liz Allsobrook, Development Officer, Action in rural Sussex, Sussex House, High St, Lewes, BN7 2NH

Tel: (01273) 405454 Email: liz.allsobrook@ruralsussex.org.uk

Who can apply?

Five conditions must be satisfied for a project to be eligible:
- The community where the project is based is/has been affected by aggregates extraction.
- The proposed project is within 10 kilometres of an aggregates extraction site, either in current use or disused.
- The proposed project will produce a community benefit
- The applicant must be a community organisation, charity or a parish/town council.
- The project must be capable of completion by the end of 31st March 2010.

Time Scales

• Open to application Monday 30th March 2009
• Deadline for completed applications 5th June 2009
• ACRE Approved applications informed W/C 3rd August 2009
• Projects must be completed by 31st March 2010

Previous awards

In 2008/2009 the COMMA grants programme awarded grants totalling £434,300, to 47 organisations across England of which 3 were in Sussex totaling £17,900.

Northchapel Village Hall Trust, Northchapel, Chichester, West Sussex received £3,500 for improvements to their flooring.

Hampers Green Community Centre, Petworth, West Sussex received £7,500 to enable them to replace their heating system.

Westfield Community Drop-In, Rother, East Sussex received £6,900 to develop their community drop in centre.

South East Region ESF Community Grants

South East Region ESF Community Grants are part of the Learning and Skills Council and European Social Fund (ESF) programme, distributing £2,286,000 in small grants during 2008-2010. Grants of up to £12,000 are available to third sector organisations in the South East. Grants will be distributed in December 2008 and the spring and autumn of 2009 and 2010.

Applications are invited from Charity or 'not for profit' and voluntary and community organisations based and providing services in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Sussex to support the most disadvantaged individuals not in employment to access further learning opportunities or progress to employment.

The closing date for the Third Round is 12.00noon on 21 September 2009.

Examples of project activities:

• Initial help for people who need support with basic skills or for whom English is a second language
• Training in new skills or skills development
• Providing advice and coaching/mentoring
• Helping people with confidence building and personal development through training courses, coaching/mentoring or peer group support
• Assisting people with job searches, including CV and interview support
• Providing taster work experience including voluntary work or arranging such placements
• Helping people with first contact engagement activities, e.g. to provide support to individuals to help them overcome barriers to learning and/or employment

Priority will be given to groups who work with - lone parents - women - people with health/disability issues - older people (50 years plus) - ethnic minorities and diverse communities

To obtain an application form or to find out more about ESF Community Grants, click here for a leaflet or contact:

Community Grants

Action in rural Sussex

212 High Street, Lewes, BN7 2NH

Tel: 01273 407395 Email: communitygrants@ruralsussex.org.uk

The South East Region Community Grants programme is funded by the Learning & Skills Council and European Social Fund (ESF) and managed by Surrey Community Action

Parishes that received this service in 2007/08: