Major Cash Boost For Community Groups

Over the past two months, Darlington Borough Council had been seeking bids from local organisations keen to win a share of a £6,000 pot.

The money was available from the Community Resource Fund, which is managed by the Council’s Economic Regeneration team and has handed out more than £80,000 to dozens of groups over the past four years.

Applications were invited from a range of organisations, from parish councils and voluntary groups to sports clubs and not-for-profit groups.

Now, the two winning groups - out of 46 entries - have been selected by a judging panel and will receive grants of £3,000 each.

Red Hall Community Association has secured a grant to help level off a playing area on the estate, to allow local youngsters to play football there.

The second victorious organisation was North Road Community Partnership, which will be using its money towards the cost of creating a community garden in North Park.

In a further boost for local groups, extra funding has been released from the Single Regeneration Budget.

As a result, six other organisations are to share in a further, unexpected windfall totalling just over £7,000.

They are Bank Top Community Partnership, Hurworth Grange Community Centre’s youth club, the Stop2Night homelessness project, Cleveland Orienteering Klub, Darlington Down’s Syndrome Education Trust and Sadberge Pre-School Group.

All unsuccessful applicants will receive advice from the Council’s external funding team on other potential sources of finance.

The Community Resource Fund initiative was established to help people take part in arts, sports and heritage projects, as well as schemes that promote education, the environment and improving health.

Don Bristow, Darlington Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “I am delighted that the excellent work of the various groups that applied will be boosted by these grants. I very much look forward to seeing how the money is used to enhance local communities.”