Archived press release

Date Published: 23/03/07

Community and voluntary groups in Aylesbury Vale will benefit from a new £5 million fund to help them support a range of extra activities. Called the Community Chest, the grant scheme is administered jointly by Aylesbury Vale District Counc...

Community and voluntary groups in Aylesbury Vale will benefit from a new £5 million fund to help them support a range of extra activities.

Called the Community Chest, the grant scheme is administered jointly by Aylesbury Vale District Council and the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust (VAHT). The fund has been made possible by a VAT rebate on the transfer of council houses to the trust.

Each year, for the next decade, the fund will award around £500,000 in grants to help local groups pursue projects of benefit to their own community.

Voluntary and community groups and parish and town councils within Aylesbury Vale are now being invited to apply for funding. Grants will be used for a variety of purposes, including sustaining or developing the activities of existing community groups, supporting new projects and purchasing items of equipment.

Project grants up to £25,000 are available for both new and existing projects that can demonstrate they are successful in meeting local needs. Easily accessible grants up to £1,000, known as ‘micro-grants’, will also be awarded to projects and groups for a range of different uses, such as running costs or organising a community event.

Examples of the sorts of applications which are expected to come forward include improvements to community facilities, such as children’s play areas and community centres, local community support projects for older people and environmental initiatives such as community clean-ups.

Applicant groups must show that they are constituted or working to a set of rules and grants will only be released as one-off payments. Organisations will also have to demonstrate how their application contributes to the Aylesbury Vale Community Plan.

Funding applications will be assessed by a grants panel consisting of three elected councillors from AVDC and three representatives from VAHT. The first grants will be awarded at a panel meeting in July.

Andrew Grant, Chief Executive of AVDC, said: “I am delighted that we have set up this fund and hope that many groups will come forward with exciting ideas for projects and activities that will benefit people of all ages living in Aylesbury Vale. It’s a fact that local people know best what projects will make life better in their community and by applying for these grants they can help to turn their ideas into reality. This grant scheme uses the expertise of local people to target cash to where it is most effective.”

Matthew Applegate, Chief Executive of VAHT, said: “Here at the trust we are proud that the £5 million fund will bring 10 years of extra grants to a range of projects that will have a direct and beneficial impact on our communities. This is another positive outcome from the joint working relationship of VAHT and AVDC since the transfer last July.”

The closing date for the first set of project grant applications is 8 June. There will be further opportunities to apply for project grants later in the year. However, applications for micro-grants can be submitted at any time.

Local groups are advised to discuss their project ideas with the council’s Community Chest grants officer before submitting an application.  If you would like advice about how to apply for a grant or would like to discuss potential projects, call Anne Vujanic on 01296 585186 or email communitychest@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk