West Sussex community organisations awarded almost £30,000 to boost local support
Three grassroots organisations supporting mental wellbeing, young people and community inclusion across Chichester and West Sussex have been awarded almost £30,000 through Community Catalyst, a programme helping voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations.
A total of £29,752 has been awarded to Chichester Forest Schools CIC and Creative Beatz & Jam, based in Chichester and Inkpots Youth Mentoring in Burgess Hill.
The funding, alongside tailored consultancy support, will help each organisation strengthen its long-term sustainability and build capacity for future growth, as they see their demand for services continuing to grow.
The funded organisations are delivering support in communities across the region, from outdoor learning opportunities for young people and families, people experiencing poor mental health and additional needs, to creative youth projects providing safe and inclusive spaces, and mentoring programmes helping young people from underrepresented backgrounds build confidence, life skills and access to education.
Rachel Maynard, CEO at Chichester Forest Schools CIC, said: "This funding has been a game changer for our organisation and has been vital to enabling us to stabilise the organisation and build on the work we are doing. This will enable us to reach more women who have experienced trauma and poor mental health, enabling them to heal through nature and community.”
Alongside Chichester Forest Schools CIC, funding has also been awarded to Creative Beatz & Jam, which delivers creative education and wellbeing projects for young people through its community café and school-based programmes, and Inkpots Youth Mentoring, which supports young people from underrepresented backgrounds to build confidence, develop life skills and improve access to education opportunities through mentoring.
Community Catalyst is funded and delivered by a consortium led by Clarion Futures alongside the Fusion21 Foundation, Places for People, Peabody and MTVH. The programme combines grant funding with tailored consultancy support, helping grassroots organisations become more resilient and better equipped to meet local needs.
Shelley Hathaway-Batt, Director of Clarion Futures, said: "Small community organisations are often best placed to understand and respond to local needs. Through Community Catalyst, we're helping organisations build the strong foundations needed to increase their impact and continue supporting residents for years to come. We're delighted to support Chichester Forest Schools CIC, Creative Beatz and Inkpots Youth Mentoring with grant funding, as they continue to grow their reach across West Sussex.”