Community groups could cash in like
café
A grant-finding service that helped to
secure £10,000 for a new internet café in Bromsgrove is encouraging
other community groups to get in touch.
The Worcestershire Partnership Funding
Manager helped the new Starlight Community Internet Café in
Charford to make a successful bid for an Awards for All
grant.
The new café, which illustrates how a
small grant can go a long way, provides training, skills,
development and job opportunities to people furthest from
employment, enjoyed a successful launch on Tuesday, March 8. The
launch was arranged by the Skills Exchange Academy, a joint social
enterprise developed by Bromsgrove District Housing Trust and
EPIC.
Like the Skills Exchange Academy, all
kinds of community groups and social enterprises can get in touch
with the Worcestershire Partnership Funding Desk for help with
finding and applying for grants. A free online search facility
helps organisations to know what's available, while a professional
advisor can help with bids for funding from the Government, the
Lottery, Trusts and many other sources.
Peter Mackenzie-Shaw, Funding
and Resources Manager for the Worcestershire Partnership,
said: "This is just one example of many successful bids
that have helped community groups throughout the county. I
encourage anyone who might be eligible to have a look at the grant
finder on our website and get in touch with me for more help and
advice."
Marie Green, Assistant Director
of Neighbourhoods at Bromsgrove District Housing Trust,
said: "The Starlight Café will demonstrate how social
enterprise can be a successful and professional business whilst
still supporting the most vulnerable people in society. The list of
people and organisations coming forward to offer work and services
for nothing, or small grants to allow the project to succeed, has
been stunning. The economic downturn has not affected people’s
ability to care about each other – this is the Big Society in
action.”
The Worcestershire Partnership Funding
Desk can be found online by visiting www.worcestershirepartnership.org.uk
and following the 'Funding
and grant finder search' link, or contact Peter Mackenzie-Shaw
on 01905 728738 or at pmackenzie-shaw@worcestershire.gov.uk
The Starlight Café is next door to the
Trunk community centre in Humphrey Avenue, Charford,
Bromsgrove.
