Somerset County Councillors want to hear from anyone with a community project idea that will help improve the health and wellbeing of people in their local patch. The Health and Wellbeing Budget Scheme is running for the third year. The fund provides each County Councillor with a one-off sum of £5,000 (with a minimum grant of £250) to support local initiatives that promote health and wellbeing for people. The application period is open until 30 November 2014

Councillors are particularly keen on projects that will help those who find it difficult to join in current community activities. It is expected this funding will largely be directed towards voluntary and community groups, parish councils and not-for-profit organisations.

Westover comes under the County division of Bridgwater South and the County Councillor is Labour’s Leigh Redman who says “As the county councillor for Bridgwater South (Hamp & Westover) division over the last year I was able to support a wide variety of community groups who benefitted from small grants, which they used to great effect and I am sure that many more communities will benefit in the coming months. My budget was able to support a number of great initiatives last year, including a gardening club, supported Daycamp places at YMCA for young people in the division, a weekly coffee morning for the older generation supported by Hamp Community Association, a sports day and a community support phone line plus much more.“

Window of Opportunity

The grant scheme has been designed to provide support for the local delivery of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, it enables each County Councillor to put forward grant proposals which support local initiatives that empower communities to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing and help people to become better integrated in their community, particularly those people who find it difficult to join in currently.

Leigh adds “This year the window of opportunity for applications is smaller so I am calling on groups & organisations in my division that think they could apply to read the online application information and get their applications with appropriate supporting info to me so that I can collate and submit if appropriate.“
Leigh can be contacted on 07971 484039 or leigh.redman@btinternet.com
For more information about the Grants click here.
Somerset Grants