A huge response to a new community grants scheme in Ryde has seen 90 applications submitted for a share of £200,000 – with the bids collectively seeking £1.2million.
The deadline has now passed for the first round of Ryde Neighbourhood Board’s Community Grants Programme, which is being run for the first time this year.
As previously reported by Island Echo, grants of up to £20,000 were made available to community groups, organisations and businesses proposing projects aimed at improving life in Ryde.
The board initially allocated £100,000 to the scheme before doubling the pot to £200,000 following a high level of interest.
Now, it has been revealed that 90 applications were received before the deadline, with the funding requested totalling 6 times the amount available.
The detailed process of assessing the applications has begun, with the first successful projects expected to be announced after being ratified by Ryde Neighbourhood Board at its meeting on 18th September.
Rachael Randall, acting chair of Ryde Neighbourhood Board and chair of the board’s finance committee, has said:
“The response to the first community grant process was fantastic. Not only did the message about grant availability clearly land successfully across the community, the number and quality of applications were also really high.
Article continues below this advertisement “This is just the start of the community grants programme. It will be repeated annually, so bidders who are unsuccessful this time around may be able to refine their applications and reapply next year. There may also be further opportunities for them when we announce details of our pilot major grants programme shortly.
“What is key is that we are actively connecting with community groups who now know that Pride in Place funding is becoming available to make Ryde a better place to live, work and visit.”
Projects eligible for the scheme include those seeking to improve public safety, health and wellbeing, access to learning, volunteering opportunities and sporting, recreational and cultural opportunities.
Projects aimed at enhancing Ryde’s natural and built environment or supporting local businesses and employment have also been eligible for funding.
The money forms part of the Government’s Pride in Place programme, which will see £ 19.5 million spent on improving Ryde over 10 years.
More information about Pride in Place and the Ryde Neighbourhood Board can be found here.
Let’s hope they go to deserving persons not like the
C ovid payments that people conned out of the system.