Seventy-four Nottinghamshire voluntary groups to share more than £170,000 worth of grants to help benefit communities including in Bilsthorpe and Muskham

Dozens of voluntary organisations and community groups are set to receive a share of £170,000 to help residents in most need.

As part of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Local Communities Fund (LCF) scheme, two types of cost of living grants have been available to eligible groups who are either helping those who are struggling to buy nutritious food to help improve health and well-being and build resilience, or are in need of a contribution towards their own rising energy bills to help keep their welcoming and warm centres and halls open across the county.

The third and final round of the grants has seen 74 groups allocated funds.

Scott Carlton, cabinet member for communities and public health which oversees the LCF scheme, said: “Over the course of this scheme we have allocated the money to a wide range of eligible groups to ensure these funds bring long-term health and well-being benefits to those Nottinghamshire communities most in need.

“This includes funding for projects which have demonstrated an inbuilt sustainability beyond the lifetime of the grant and can also help reduce demand on health and social care services.

“We are proud that this dedicated cost of living grant scheme has supported groups, charities, and organisations to help them continue their essential work in the community.”

Around 200 projects have now benefitted from cost-of-living grants worth a total of £450,000 since the first round of payments in March 2023.

One of the groups to benefit from all three rounds of grants is the Bilsthorpe Emergency Team which helps provide affordable and nutritious food in the community. In total, the group has received £6,680, including £2,500 in the most recent round of funding.

Julie Francis, vice chairman of the Bilsthorpe Emergency Team, said: “This funding has meant we have been able to help even more people by supplementing food parcels with more fruit, veg and protein.

“Over the year we have fed more than 10,500 people around Bilsthorpe and surrounding areas. We have had so much positive feedback from the community who tell us how much this scheme has helped their health and well-being and reduced the worry around being able to afford a nutritious meal.

“We have also been able to provide emergency provision out of hours for individuals or families in crisis, working with partners.”

Muskham Rural Community Centre has received £4,285 during the course of the scheme, including £2,500 in the latest round.

Jude Andrews, from the centre, said: “It is a challenging time for charities and community groups with running costs so high, especially energy bills.

“This is why we are very grateful for this support as these grants help us to keep our centres clean, warm and welcoming for the benefit of the community.”

Other schemes which have been supported by the fund include:

• A Place to Call Our Own, Budby and Thoresby branches.
• Edwinstowe Village Hall steering committee.
• Elston Village Hall.
• Epperstone Village Hall management committee.
• Forces in the Community.
• Gunthorpe Village Hall and Playing Fields.
• Let's All Eat, Ollerton and Boughton.
• Lifespring Church and Centre, Ollerton.
• MHA Communities East Nottinghamshire.
• Newark and Sherwood CVS.
• Newark Community Hub.
• Newark Food and Wellbeing Hub.

With the cost of living scheme now closed, eligible groups will be able to apply for other grants via the Local Communities Fund.

This includes capital grants which can help towards improvements to facilities that help improve health, wellbeing, and the environment such as improvements to sports facilities, play areas or green spaces.

Revenue grants will also be available to help projects with their day-to-day running costs such as paying wages and bills.

Both grants schemes are due to be open for applications later this spring.