From school cycling initiatives to community art projects; mental health workshops to sensory gardens, the Greatwell Homes Community Grants Fund has been giving a valuable cash-boost to life-changing projects across Northamptonshire communities since 2016.
Over the last year, 13 projects have successfully been awarded with funding totalling more than £30,000 and making a real impact in their communities.
In Wellingborough, a project to promote bike travel has been going from strength to strength in a local school. So successful has the Brightwayz initiative at Croyland School been, it is now in its second year of community grants funding, securing an additional £5,000 in September for onsite bike storage due to the high demand of pupils now cycling to and from the school. The funding has also helped the school achieve the national Modeshift STARS award, recognising organisations that have enhanced opportunities to walk, ride and use public transport for everyday journeys.
Another Wellingborough school – Wrenn School – has used the funding to create a sensory garden for its pupils who also have carer responsibilities at home. As well as the £500 it was awarded through the programme, the project was also bolstered by a donation of £900 for a new shed from Greatwell Homes’ building suppliers Jewson Partnership Solutions meaning the school’s young carers have a well-equipped garden for wellbeing support and engagement.
Beyond education, the Community Grants Fund has also been supporting a range of other projects. Northampton Town FC Community Trust was awarded around £2,500 to support a football coaching programme for children and adults (aged 14+) with Down Syndrome. Sessions are delivered by disability-trained coaches in an inclusive environment, offering participants physical activity, social connection and confidence-building. Parents and carers also benefit from respite and peer support during sessions.
Elsewhere, Northamptonshire-based arts centre, The Creative Place, wasted no time in launching their community arts project the Shed of Culture supported by a £5,000 grant. Initially focussed on delivering community outreach and creative workshops for residents in the Kingsway area of Wellingborough, it’s hoped that the pop-up project will bring community-centred arts to various parts of the region.
The plethora of supported projects have been made possible thanks to Greatwell Homes doubling the total funding allocation for community grants after a recommendation from its Customer Assembly, who also help decide which bids are successful.
Chair of the Assembly and Greatwell Homes’ customer, Peter Allington, said: “Seeing so many of these great projects get off the ground is wonderful and demonstrates the value of the Greatwell Homes Community Grants Fund.
“Without such a scheme, it’s hard to know where these invaluable community projects would get this much needed funding to make such a difference to our communities.
“As a Customer Assembly, we’ve been overwhelmed by the quality of applications for the grants funding. It’s a great resource to have in the local area and I’d encourage any community groups or projects out there who have an idea but might be short of funding to apply and see your project flourish.”
Other projects that have been successfully awarded a grant through the scheme over the last year include:
- Off the Streets NN CIC (Grant funding: £1,443.72)
- Real Talk Mental Health Pilot (Grant funding: £2,350)
- Wellie Wombles (Grant Funding: £960)
- Teamwork Trust – Happy & Healthy Gardening (Grant funding: £3,593.60)
- Out There’ LGBTQ+ Youth Group – Service Six (Grant funding: £1,500)
- Moneywise Pilot project – Wrenn School & Community Safety Education CIC (Grant funding: £330)
- Olympus Care / LIVE Gardening and Pop-up Coffee shop (Grant funding: £1,500)
- Made With Many – Independent Living Creative Workshops (Grant funding: £2,000)
- Redeem Funds (Queensway) Foodbank (Grant funding: £2,500)
Anyone interested in applying to the fund can visit the Community Grants page to find out more.