An extra £20,000 is to be invested in South Cambridgeshire District Council's popular Community Chest grant scheme, enabling more local groups to deliver projects benefiting residents across the district. This decision comes as demand for the council's funding continues to grow.
The scheme provides grants of up to £2,000 to voluntary and community organisations, charities, and public sector bodies for projects that benefit local residents. The Community Chest budget was initially set at £64,890 for this year, with an additional £11,010 ringfenced for biodiversity projects, which has now been fully allocated. The main Community Chest fund has experienced consistently strong demand.
During a Grants Advisory Committee meeting on 24 September, councillors approved five further Community Chest applications totalling £9,021. This left just under £14,000 in the budget for the remainder of the financial year. Consequently, the council is allocating an additional £20,000 to boost available grants and ensure more worthwhile community projects receive funding until 31 March 2027.
Cllr Dr Lisa Redrup, Lead Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities, stated: "Community groups are at the heart of life in South Cambridgeshire. They bring people together, support residents' wellbeing, improve local facilities and help create thriving, connected communities. The Community Chest scheme has a strong track record of supporting projects that make a real difference locally. This additional funding will allow us to support even more groups and help ensure good ideas are not missed because of a lack of available funding."
The committee agreed to fund five recent applicants: Bourn Allotment Association (£1,600) for improved disabled and wheeled access; 4D Dance CIC (£612) to launch new weekly dance classes in Willingham; Bourn Sports Club (£809) to replace a storage shed damaged by vandalism; Foxton Bowls Club (£2,000) to purchase lighter bowls for inclusivity; and Northstowe Cricket Club (£2,000) to support its women's cricket team.
Community Chest grants support a wide array of initiatives, including improvements to community buildings and outdoor spaces, environmental projects, equipment purchases, activities reducing social isolation, and projects promoting health and wellbeing. Past funding has aided village halls, community spaces, biodiversity initiatives, sports groups, and projects focused on inclusion.
