SEVERAL voluntary and community sector groups in Redditch have successfully bid for a share of Redditch Borough Council’s recently-restructured grants programme.

The VCS Grants Programme for 2020-21 consists of two grant pots, the Financial Advice and Problem Solving Grant, and the Main Grants.

The Financial Advice and Problem Solving Grant, which is made up of £50k per year for the next three years, has been successfully bid for by Bromsgrove and District Citizens Advice Bureau (operating as Bromsgrove and Redditch Citizens Advice).

This element of the grant scheme is designed to contribute to the delivery of a financial advice and problem solving service for the whole borough and its residents.

The second part of the grant scheme is the Main Grants Pot which, due to Covid-19 and after consulting with VCS groups, has been split into two rounds. The first round ended in May and the second will take place in the autumn of this year.

Anyone applying for grant funding from these pots can bid for anything between £500 and £5,000 to help with core costs, salaries or for community events, projects and activities.

Successful applicants for the first round of this funding include:

  • Old Needle Works, Parenting provision: £2,530
  • BARN, The Volunteer Centre: £4,709
  • Carers Careline, Email and telephone services: £4,000
  • Redditch Wheels Project, Vision 2020: £5,000
  • BENS Community Groups, BENS Community Groups: £2,350
  • Relate, Counselling services: £4,000

Cllr Matt Dormer, leader of Redditch Borough Council, said: “As a council we are committed to supporting voluntary community sector organisations to deliver projects and activities that have a positive and beneficial impact on Redditch and its residents. Congratulations to all of the groups who successfully bid in this round. I hope to see many more applications for the second round come autumn time.

“We have no doubt your organisations and projects will have a huge impact on the town, especially under the current unprecedented circumstances. With your help we can unlock a bright future for Redditch.”