August 7, 2013 10.46 am This story is over 127 months old

County councillors get £2k to help local groups and causes

Big Society Fund: Each county councillor will get £2,000 per year to support hard working local causes across Lincolnshire.
Toolbar-local.org.uk is website by a voluntary group helping jobseekers in Bourne. The project was supported by County Councillor Sue Woolley. Photo: LCC

Each county councillor will get £2,000 per year to support hard-working local causes across Lincolnshire.

Lincolnshire County Council is relaunching the Big Society Fund after a recent vote in favour of continuing the scheme.

In previous years the county councillor grants have been used to fund village halls, sports clubs, play areas and even rescue boats.

The City of Lincoln Council ran a similar scheme for city councillors’ ward budgets of £1,000, but this was scrapped earlier this year in a bid to save up £33,000 per year.

Councillor Sue Wooley, Executive Councillor for Health, Housing and Communities, said: ” The Big Society Fund has proved to be very popular, enabling councillors with their local knowledge, to support small groups and charities which are active in their area.

“Community groups are the lifeblood of our towns and villages, and provide a fantastic variety of activities and services, for all ages, interests and abilities.

“Often a relatively small sum of money is all a group needs to get off the ground, or can help cover vital running costs.”

Funding is awarded by individual county councillors at their discretion and will be for groups/organisations such as community groups, voluntary organisations, Parish or Town Councils or Registered Charities.

The grant can be used to help provide team clothing or kits, the hiring or purchasing of equipment, training of staff, start up costs, improvement to community facilities and revenue costs such as transport expenses.

To find out how local community groups can apply for support, visit Big Society Fund website.