Not for profit organisations who are working on projects that enhance or interpret the heritage and countryside of the Churnet Valley Living Landscape area are being encouraged to apply for a grant of up to £3,000 from the new Churnet Valley Community Scheme, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The qualifying area stretches from the Peak District boundary across to Rudyard, Cheddleton, Alton to Ashbourne.
The community grant scheme is open to voluntary and community organisations, parish councils, social enterprises and schools with their own constitution and UK bank account that are based in, or benefiting, the Churnet Valley Living Landscape area. Eligible projects are those that are working to address one or more of the six CVLLP objectives:
- Assisting people in protecting heritage items
- Helping people learn about their heritage
- Helping communities celebrate heritage and inform others
- Encouraging young people to enter land management and learn rural skills
- Involving young people in respecting and maintaining the landscape
- Increasing people’s awareness and enjoyment of the area.
Suzanne Cole who administers the fund at CVLLP partner, Staffordshire Moorlands Community and Voluntary Services (SMCVS) said, "This is a brand new grant funding opportunity available in the Churnet Valley where decisions will be made by people with knowledge of the area and its needs. We have a panel of enthusiastic members of the local community ready and waiting to receive applications”.
Grants awarded will be between £200 and £3,000 and can be used for both revenue and/or capital costs. Applicants need to be able to provide match funding for their projects, as the scheme will only fund up to 50% of the total project costs to a maximum of £3,000 (which ever is the lesser amount).
The Community Grants Scheme is administered by CVLLP partner Staffordshire Moorlands Community and Voluntary Services (SMCVS) who can answer any questions and give assistance and/or advice to potential applicants to ensure the best possible outcome.
The first deadline for applications is 6th June 2013, thereafter deadlines will be quarterly. Further information is available to download from www.churnet-valley.org.uk. For a chat about your project idea, any questions or to request an application pack, please contact Suzanne Cole, Community Grants Officer at SMCVS on 01538 381356 or email grants@smcvs.co.uk. More information about he scheme can be found here.