Community groups in Preston are set to receive a funding boost from the city council.

A £3,000 pot has been set aside to help local groups across the city get new events or projects off the ground.

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The £500 grants will be available to partner organisations of Preston City Council.

Community engagement officers said they were regularly approached by organisations seeking a small contribution towards activities or events.

Cabinet member for resources, councillor Martyn Rawlinson, signed off the new fund.

He said: “Preston Council’s Community Engagement officers support groups around the city that provide activities and services within communities.

“From time to time, these officers identify the opportunity to fill a small funding gap that may enable a new community project to get off the ground, or to continue or expand an already successful project.

“The Partnership Fund allows our frontline Community Engagement officers to give a helping hand to groups who may need a small amount of cash, up to £500, to achieve our shared aims. The fund effectively unties the hands of the officers working on the ground by giving them a resource with which to support Preston’s thriving community and voluntary sector.

“It’s almost like a petty cash box but within a more formal structure since it requires both management and Cabinet Member approval. The money is being taken from grants previously awarded that went unspent due to circumstances beyond the council’s control. It’s a great way to support new groups, new ideas and those who have been working hard for our communities for many years.”

The kind of projects the grants will cover are events which:

– support key council priorities for your neighbourhoods or your future
– promotes community engagement
– develop new audiences and improve access to arts and cultural activities
– help tackle inequalities, exclusion or disadvantage
– improve and enrich the quality of life for residents, especially the more vulnerable
– acting as a voice for local communities to help improve services
– delivering services which offer people local solutions

The fund is to be allocated on a first come first serve basis.

If not called in by any other councillors who may want to query it, the fund will be live from Friday 3 October.

Details of how to apply are to be made available on the Preston City Council website in the coming weeks.

Can you think of any projects or events which should apply for funding? Let us know in the comments below