Published on:
27
September 2012
Clackmannanshire Council are calling on applications from groups from all over the county to get their share of £100,00 worth in grants which are available to local communities in a bid to improve quality of life in the area.
The Council's new Community Environmental Improvement Fund is open to communities across Clackmannanshire following the public launch this week, with the closing date for applications, 31st October.
In February 2012 the Council agreed to include £100K from its Invest to Save Fund for an Environmental Improvement Fund in the budget for 2012/13.
Earlier this month the Council's Enterprise and Environment Committee gave the go-ahead for the scheme to be launched.
Committee Convenor, Councillor Donald Balsillie said: "To receive a grant, communities have to demonstrate Spend to Save principles while at the same time developing community participation by residents who want to make a difference to their environment and improve the quality of life in their area."
Each community will be able to apply for one project up to a maximum of £10,000, with the minimum grant being £4,000. In exceptional cases where projects can demonstrate a wide range of physical environmental benefits within a community, a larger award may be made.
Councillior Balsille added: "To qualify projects must demonstrate an improvement in their community such as changing bedding plants to herbaceous plants to save on maintenance and materials or by using the money as match funding to draw in funding from other sources.
"Other ways the cash could be used is by providing, restoring or improving community environmental resources such as parks, community gardens, reduction of waste, reuse, recycling or use of environmentally friendly materials, gardens, local green spaces, woodlands or paths."
The fund is also aimed at establishing community and special interest groups with the goal of improving their local environment; improving degraded land, main streets and neighbourhoods for public benefit.
Councillor Balsillie added: "We want to create communities that are, and feel, safer, by addressing crime and the fear of crime, creating safer places for people to meet and take exercise.
"We also want to the money to be used to support vulnerable people and families, by addressing the needs of the elderly, considering how projects can involve and contribute to the needs of vulnerable people and their families.
The criteria laid down for a grant to be made is that a project must be capable of completion by 15th March, 2013, be located within Clackmannanshire, and be unlikely to be able to proceed without this funding.
A guide leaflet and application form for groups looking for a cash grant under The Community Environmental Improvement Fund has been prepared explaining how to apply for a grant under this new and exciting scheme.
Community groups from all over Clackmannanshire have up until 31st October to submit their applications.