£350k for community and voluntary groups in Bassetlaw
Some 31 groups and organisations receive money from UK Shared Prosperity Fund to support local communities
Nearly £350k of government funding has been awarded to community and voluntary groups across the north Nottinghamshire district of Bassetlaw. It’s a largely rural area covering some 256 miles, and its residents face a range of challenges.
Darren Huart, BCVS Business Development Manager, Lynn Tupling, Bassetlaw Action Centre, Cllr Steve Scotthorne, Cabinet Member for Identity and Place joined by volunteers from Bassetlaw Action Centre; photo courtesy of Bassetlaw District Council
Among the 31 groups and organisations to receive a grant, Bassetlaw Action Centre has been awarded £25,000. The centre works to promote the independence of older and vulnerable people. That includes support for people with long-term conditions and those with housing issues or transport needs. It also runs self-help groups.
The new funding will be spent on recruiting more volunteers and on the existing ‘focus on farmer’s initiative, which provides support in areas ranging from mental and physical health to firearm safety.
Lynn Tupling from Bassetlaw Action Centre says: ‘Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organisation. The UKSPF Community Grants funding has allowed us to appoint a dedicated volunteer recruiter to enable us to not only recruit volunteers but also to raise the profile of the services of the Bassetlaw Delivery Partnership. We are extremely grateful to have received this funding and the volunteers recruited will continue to provide services to the local community long after the funding ends.’
Oasis Community Church has been awarded £22,964 for its ‘Social Solutions’ initiative. Nottinghamshire Mind has been awarded £15,000 to provide ‘Well’ cafes in Carlton-in-Lindrick, Harworth and Retford. There is also £2,650 for Worksop’s Men in Sheds, a project that aims to support older men. For a full breakdown of grants, see the Bassetlaw District Council website.
Bassetlaw Community and Voluntary Service (BCVS) is administering the community voluntary grant programme on behalf of Bassetlaw District Council, which secured the money from the government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.
Andria Birch, CEO of BCVS, says: ‘We are delighted to see so many diverse and local VCSE groups benefiting from the Bassetlaw Community Grants Programme and the amazing success of the projects to date. Our thanks as always goes to Bassetlaw District Council for having the vision and commitment to our local Voluntary and Community sector to enable such a huge success, to our amazing panel members who, as volunteers, dedicate their time to reviewing and assessing applications, and to the 31 fantastic organisations working to deliver so much across Bassetlaw.
‘We look forward to building on this work to date with Bassetlaw District Council, The Bassetlaw Place Based Partnership, and the new East Midlands Combined County Authority, in whatever comes next to build on all the successes achieved through the Shared Prosperity Fund in Bassetlaw to date.’
Cllr Steve Scotthorne, Cabinet Member for Identity and Place at Bassetlaw District Council, says: ‘The contributions made by community and voluntary groups in the district is important and valuable, along with those made by the BCVS, in making Bassetlaw a vibrant, inclusive, healthy, and welcoming district. This investment will enable groups to make a real difference in our local neighbourhoods through the support they can offer as well as volunteering opportunities.’
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