Partnering with West Mercia Police & Crime Commission (WMPCC), Worcestershire Community Foundation is opening up a new grant funding opportunity for grassroots community organisations across Worcestershire.
With £100,000 of funding, the Inclusive Communities Fund will help build community cohesion particularly amongst minority groups by encouraging a wide range of innovative projects that promote community interventions and give practical support to communities which feel under-resourced and even ignored.
One of the main aims of the fund is to create safer and more confident communities through funding initiatives run by and for the communities they aim to serve, to encourage diverse groups to work together.
Worcestershire Community Foundation wish to reach out to and engage a wide range of grassroots community groups, with an emphasis on encouraging applications from minority groups of all kinds. Applicants may be experiencing difficulties of many kinds within their communities and wish to set up positive initiatives to develop community cohesion or address early-stage crime prevention. WCF wishes to fund organisations that can demonstrate the capacity to deliver innovative, grassroots solutions to local issues within their communities.
Lucy Wells, Director of Worcestershire Community Foundation, said:
“We are very excited in our 20th anniversary year to be providing this new opportunity, which has been made possible by funding from the WMPCC, match funded by Worcestershire Community Foundation. The Inclusive Communities Fund aims to develop community cohesion and address early-stage crime prevention. Whilst the fund is open to all, we would particularly like to encourage applications from minority groups to help them create innovative solutions to local issues within their communities.”
Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said:
“A sense of community has the power to define us and shape our identity. Sadly, I know minority groups often feel marginalised and unable to voice their concerns, especially in relation to policing. I am committed to delivering change, so I am proud to play my role in launching the new Inclusive Communities Fund. I look forward to seeing the exciting and innovative proposals local organisations and groups come up with, as I work closely with Worcestershire Community Foundation to build safer and stronger communities in the county.”
The fund opened to applications on Thursday 4th May 2023. Groups can apply for a grant of up to £10,000. The deadline for applications is Friday 2nd June.
For details and to make an application go to: https://www.worcscf.org.uk/grants/inclusivecommunitiesfund/