Nexus funding now available
Advantage West Midlands has confirmed that Nexus funding will be available to groups / organizations seeking to improve access to services in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire up until March 2010.
Nexus aims to fund small-scale project activity which responds to an identified rural community need for increased access to a service, for communities in the Rural Regeneration Zone that perhaps those in more urban areas would take for granted. In particular, the fund is looking to enhance or create the following types of services:
- Health advice
- Leisure
- Information communication technology
- Training and development
- Counselling / support services
As this fund is primarily to support revenue expenditure, priority will be given to projects that:
- Adapt buildings or purchase equipment to provide new services
- Establish or enhance outreach services to improve accessibility for rural communities
Nexus is open to statutory agencies, independent commercial retailers, voluntary and community groups and service providers. Grants from between £250 and £5,000 (capital or revenue) can be accessed to ensure people living in rural wards can access services that are more readily available in urban areas.
Community First will be providing support to applicants in all 3 counties, so all correspondence, queries and requests for support in completing the application form should go direct to them. Wherever possible they will set up surgeries where advice and guidance can be given to applicants regarding their project proposals, eligibility and the application form.
Community First are currently reviewing the guidance notes and application form to make the application process as smooth and straight forward as possible.
Applications should be completed electronically where ever possible and are sent via email as this helps speed up the process and allows communication to take place more quickly and formally. However as this isn’t always possible it is not a determining factor in who gets a grant.
To obtain an electronic copy of the application pack and to express your interest formally, please contact Sophie Mead directly.
Sophie Mead
Grants Administration Officer
Community First
T. 01684 312734
www.comfirst.org.uk
