Grants from £250 to £2500 are available if you have a project based in the Longford ward area. 

Here are the précis of successful projects:

• Pearson Avenue Neighbourhood Watch
  £585.90 awarded towards supply and installation of a security gate to an entry between properties. This will contribute toward creating a cleaner and safer environment for residents.
• Bell Green Silver Surfers
  £2412 awarded to purchase additional laptops and tablets to enable more people to be able to attend weekly IT classes for older residents.
• Bell Green Working Mens Club
  £920 awarded for the community Christmas pantomime including selection boxes for all local children.
• Bromwell Academy of Dance and Drama
  £2500 awarded to enable local children to perform at the Shanklin Theatre, Isle of Wight.
• Bell Green Residents and Tenants Association
  £1,000 towards the Christmas lights switch on event 2012. An evening of fun with carol singing, fairground rides and stalls culminating in the big switch on of the Christmas lights.
  View some photos of the evening here.

Preamble
£50,865 of Central Government money has been made available to support projects of neighbourhood improvement in Longford Ward.

In order not to miss tight deadlines an Interim Panel has been established to handle registration and move matters forward. There are currently five members and if you wish to join the Panel, we can recruit to a maximum of eight.

Grants of between £250 and £2,500 will be made as long as the project is working within the priorities of the Neighbourhood Plan which in Longford are:

• Employment
  To support people to develop the skills to get jobs and to increase household incomes
• Health and Well Being
  To get more people involved in physical activity, healthy diet and art activities
• Community Safety
  Initiatives that prevent and reduce crime through local action groups in partnership
• Environment
  To address litter on the streets and improve the quality of open spaces and sustainable travel
• Equality and Community Cohesion
  To encourage people to participate in events, bring communities together and take part in their community

It is a matched funded programme which means that in order to receive funding for your project you need to contribute the same amount that you are asking for. You can raise thus amount in the following ways:

• Volunteer time which is valued at £11.09 per hour
• Gifts in Kind. These are services provided free of charge that you would normally have to pay for, such as venue hire
• Cash donations

Developments
An initial Community Panel has been formed whose Lead Person is Ralph Bamber supported by Councillor Linda Bigham as Deputy Lead Person. The Panel is made up of City Councillors, residents, voluntary sector and Residents Association officers. If you wish to join the Panel we can recruit to a maximum number of eight.

The Panel, once properly constituted, will accept or reject applications for grants and its decisions are final. The Panel is supported by Neighbourhood Action (City Council), Voluntary Action Coventry (Panel Partner) and the Community Development Foundation which will make the payment of grants.

Contact
If you are interested please contact Nick Richards on 024 7678 5908 for further information or alternatively you can download an application form below.

Please return your completed application form to Marian McGowan, Voluntary Action Coventry, 29 Warwick Road, Coventry, CV1 2ES.