Community groups supporting local people with the cost of living are being encouraged to apply to Dover District Council’s Cost of Living Community Impact Fund.
The grant scheme, which launches today (20 May), will provide £104,700 to registered charities, Community Interest Companies and local groups to help with their work in the district’s communities.
Funds will be allocated over two rounds – winter and summer – during 2024/25, and groups can apply for a grant of between £100 and £2,500.
Applicants must highlight the impact the cost of living is having on their beneficiaries, and how their project will help bridge the cost of living gap, for the benefit of the local community.
The closing date for the first round is Monday, 1 July, 2024.
Cllr Charlotte Zosseder, DDC’s cabinet member for community, said: “Local groups and charities carry out essential work in our communities to help those struggling with the cost of living. We are therefore delighted to help support vital local projects through the Community Impact Fund.
“We hope this funding will help groups continue their important work and we are encouraging as many as possible to apply.”
To apply go to www.dover.gov.uk/Community/Grants-Funding/Community-Grants-Scheme/Cost-of-Living-Community-Impact-Fund.aspx
How has the Community Impact Fund helped?
In the last round of funding, 59 applicants received a grant from the £86.7K available.
The groups are using the funds on projects which support some of the most vulnerable in the community with the cost of living.
Here are examples of some who have benefitted from the funding:
Dover Swap Shop
Dover Swap Shop was awarded a grant of £1,440 in the last round of funding.
The shop allows families to bring in children’s items they no longer need such as clothes, toys and books and swap them with other items. This not only helps families in need but stops items going to landfill. The shop is also a warm space for people to meet and get support.
Chairman Elizabeth Holt said: “We applied for the cost of living impact fund to secure our venue to continue helping the community and to give them access to warm items, such as blankets and hot water bottles, as a lot of the families we see cannot afford gas and electricity.
“The families are always so thankful and grateful especially following the increased costs of everyday living, because they can't afford to heat their homes let alone buy clothes for their children.
“We’ve had parents who have managed to get their children Christmas presents at the swap shop which allows them to spend more on their bills.”
Future Skills CIC
Future Skills Community Interest Company received a grant of £1,696 in the last round of funding for its project ‘the Getaway Garden’.
Director Carol Clayson said: “The Getaway Garden is in the grounds of Dover Counselling Centre and provides residents and users of the counselling service the opportunity to grow their own vegetables and flowers.
“Our visitors include survivors of domestic violence, those who are neurodiverse and people with life-reducing conditions.
“We also work with residents who have a long-term disability or health problem that prevents them being economically active.
“We work with people referred by the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP), the Dover NEETS project and those being home schooled.
“We hold free events at the community garden, too, such as pumpkin carving at Halloween and wreath making. At Christmas we will also be supplying food parcels to regular users to assist with the cost of the festive season.”
Posted on 20 May 2024