Just days left to apply for grant

Applications for Rother District Council’s Community Grant Scheme must be submitted before midnight on Sunday January 31.

The initiative aims to support local groups and organisations which benefit the people of Rother and help them to attract funding.

Little Gate Care Farm in Beckley is just one organisation that has benefitted from a grant after applying for £5,000 to develop new buildings.

“The money couldn’t have come at a better time,” said charity CEO, Claire Cordell. “We were in the early stages of developing the farm and needed to build a barn which could be used as a lambing shed and an educational area.”

Little Gate Care Farm was set up 18 months ago to address a lack of opportunities in the area for people with learning disabilities.

The charity offers adults with learning disabilities the chance to learn work-related skills and build their confidence ready to move on into its supported employment programme. It also runs respite services for children eight to 19 years.

Claire said: “We are a charity and are only 50 per cent grant funded, so the grant from Rother District Council was a great help.”

She added: “I would encourage other organisations to apply for a community grant. Definitely go for it as it can make a real difference.”

Community Grants are divided into three categories. The maximum grant will be limited to 50 per cent of the total cost of the project:

• Small grants scheme – for grants of under £500.

• Medium grants scheme – for one-off-grants of up to £5,000. 30 per cent of the funding will need to come from local support.

• Large grants scheme - for a maximum grant of £30,000. Rother Council will only fund a project with long-term viability. The applicant will need to provide details of how ongoing costs will be met and high levels of community support.

All applications will need the support of the councillors representing the ward where the project is based.

Visit www.rother.gov.uk/communitygrantscheme, email [email protected] or call 01424 787864 for further details.

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