Community building grants

Community building grants, up to a value of £300, are available annually. These are for community and voluntary sector groups to run small-scale projects, events and activities to help them support the wellbeing of their neighbourhood.

This is a rolling grants process and applications are welcomed at any time. Please read the application guidelines below to find out how to apply. To find out more please get in touch with the community services team.

Community building – application guidelines

We have a small pot of funding to allocate to local good causes and we are now inviting applications for funding to support community pride projects across Cheltenham.

Why community-building grants?

Cheltenham Borough Council wants to provide small amounts of money to our local communities so that they can use their significant skills, powers and resources to help build thriving communities.

These themes might be picked up in practical projects such as:

Purchasing equipment to enable the group to be more effective
Using technology and social media to create a supportive community
Organising community events that will build a strong sense of community resilience

Alternatively community groups might want to use the funding to acquire specific support such as:

Identifying, recruiting and supporting volunteers
Training courses for volunteers and paid staff to develop specific skills such as fund raising, management structures, governance and accountability
Accessing specific advice and support

Who can apply?

Any parish council, constituted voluntary sector, community or neighbourhood-based organisation, trade and business representative organisation or school can apply. The awarding criteria will seek to distribute this funding evenly across the different areas of Cheltenham.

How much can be applied for?

Any group may apply for a single award up to a maximum of £300. We will expect the group to contribute to the success of the project and match the grant with energy, time and commitment measured at £12 per hour, or through meeting any additiona costs incurred.

What we won’t fund

Any events or activities of a political nature
Projects being delivered outside the boundaries of Cheltenham borough
Projects that cannot demonstrate that the necessary permissions will be achieved within the appropriate timescales

The assessment criteria

We are looking for projects that have been well thought out and can demonstrate the following:

That the project, event or activity will build and support community spirit
What will the event or activity achieve
How will success be measured
The amount of funding requested and any additional volunteer time or cash that is contributed

How to apply

Making an application

Please complete all sections of the application form. We won't consider incomplete applications.

For any enquiries please contact the community services team.

Agreements and performance management

Before the project can start, the council will enter into a project agreement with the provider which will set out various obligations on the two parties. This will include important issues like safeguarding, health and safety and data sharing.

Grant payments

For successful applicants, payments will generally be made in arrears on receipt of completed performance management report and claim form. We can arrange advance payments to help with cash flow but this will be subject to checks and you will be liable to repay this if your project does not make satisfactory progress.

Other considerations

Please be aware that as this is public money, the funding will be subject to inspection and audit. Any fraudulent activity will be quickly identified and reported to the police.

Grants previously allocated

Community Building Grants 2019-20

Benhall Residents Association: Benhall Playing Out - closure of Bisley Road to allow children to play out safely on 13 July 2019. - £225
Oakley Residents Association: Oakley Fun Day - to launch new scooter park. - £300
Vision 21: Sewing Circles - to encourage repair and reuse of materials. - £300
Friends of Hatherley Park: Celebrate 80 in the Park! An event to mark Hatherley Park's 80th anniversary. - £300
Hesters Way Neighbourhood Project: Springbank Summer Fair. - £300
St Pauls Residents Association: St Paul’s Road Area residents’ association and St Paul’s NCG meetings and dissemination of information. - £300
Holocaust Memorial Day Act of Remembrance Committee: Act of Remembrance 27 January 2020, and marking 75 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. - £300

Total Communtiy Building Grants allocated in 2019-20 - £2,025

Community Building Grants 2018-19

UoG Students Union: SU Annual Christmas Tea Dance. - £300
Reddings Residents Association: The Reddings Air Quality Monitoring Project. - £200
St Pauls Residents Association: St Paul's Road Area Residents Association and St Paul's NCG. - £300
Cheltenham West End Partnership: Christmas Festival. - £280
Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts: Audience Development - Community Tickets. - £200
Hesters Way Neighbourhood Project: Winter Wonderland. - £300
Benhall Residents Association: Annual Community Family Event. - £250
Create on the Square Activities Team: Christmas on the Square. - £300
Qigong on the Park: Qigong on the Park. - £300
Holocaust Memorial Day Act of Remembrance Committee: HMD Act of Remembrance 24 January 2019. - £300
Pittville School: Driving attendance up to Christmas. - £300
CWEP: Litter Picking event. - £281

Total Communtiy Building Grants allocated in 2018-19 - £3,311

Community Building Grants 2017-18

Friends of Hatherley Park: Music in the Park. - £226
Cheltenham in Bloom: Celebrating 35 years of ‘Cheltenham in Bloom’. - £300
Golden-Oldies Charity: Goldies Singing in Cheltenham. - £300
St Paul’s Road Area Residents’ Association (SPRA): St Paul’s Road Area residents’ association (SPRA) and St Paul’s NCG. - £300
Oakley Residents Association: Oakley Fun Day. - £300
St. Marys Open Group: Purchase a defibrillator for St. Marys Parish Centre. - £300
Unwin Road Action Group: Unwin Road Footpath Lighting Scheme. - £200
St Michaels Cornerstone trust: Cornerstones holiday at home. - £300
Cheltenham Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration Committee: Holocaust Memorial Day Act of Remembrance. - £300
Naunton Area Residents Association (NARA): Establishment of new residents association. - £300

Total Communtiy Building Grants allocated in 2017-18 - £2,826

Community Building Grants 2016-17

Cheltenham Civic Society: Cheltenham Spa Tercentenary – illustrated booklet. - £300
Cheltenham Pensioners Forum: 18th anniversary buffet lunch. - £280
Charlton Kings in Bloom: Charlton Kings Meadows Project 2017. - £300
Pilates by Charlotte: Pre and Post-natal Pilates Group. - £300
Cheltenham Wombles: Art / Pottery competition – “Keeping Cheltenham Tidy”. - £300
SPRA St Paul’s Road Area residents association (SPRA) and St Paul’s NCG. - £300
Tenants Garden Competition: Tenants Garden Competition. - £300
Cheltenham Holocaust Memorial Day: Cheltenham Holocaust Memorial Day Act of Remembrance 2017. - £300
Mayor of Cheltenham: Rose Planting to celebrate Twinning Link. - £240
Cheltenham in Bloom: Enhancing the Planters. - £300

Total Communtiy Building Grants allocated in 2016-17 - £2,920

Community Building Grants 2015-16

Friends of Hatherley Park: Music in the Park for Nepal. - £250
Cheltenham Civic Society: Civic Day. - £300
University of Gloucestershire Students’ Union: Students’ Union Annual Christmas Tea Dance. - £300
Gloucestershire County Council: Hesters Way Library: Hesters Way Library Summer Reading Challenge 2015: Record Breakers. - £300
Cheltenham and District Allotment Holders’ Association: Promoting the Interest of Allotment Gardeners. - £250
Golden-Oldies: Goldies Singing in Cheltenham. - £300
Glos Gay and Lesbian Community Group: Cheltenham Outreach project. - £300
St. Michael’s Cornerstone Trust: Festival Fortnight. - £100
Cheltenham in Bloom: Bringing the Community together – Residential and Commercial – Presentation Awards Evening. - £300
SPRA: SPRA community building. - £300
Cheltenham District Scouts: District Scout HQ Paint Project. - £300
Cheltenham Connect: South Cheltenham Local Traders History Website. - £200
In Bloom for Warden Hill: Autumn/Spring Planting. - £300
In Bloom for Warden Hill: Community Christmas Celebration. - £150
Cheltenham Pensioners Forum: 17th anniversary buffet lunch and dance including commemoration of V-J Day. - £280

Total Communtiy Building Grants allocated in 2015-16 - £3,930