Every Borough Councillor and Parish Council within Boston Borough is set to receive £1000 to provide additional support to their local communities to boost health, wellbeing and community cohesion as part of the Borough Councils efforts to support communities as they recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The launch of the new Councillor Grants Scheme is underpinned by Boston Borough Council’s ambitious health and wellbeing initiative; the Empowering Healthy Communities Programme. The programme seeks to focus on health, wellbeing, Covid-19 response and recovery and has a number of programme strands which support and empower communities across the Borough.
Through the new Councillor Grant Scheme, Ward Councillors and Parish Councils will be able to use the funding to provide a much needed cash boost to their local areas. Eligible groups will be able to apply for funding from their local Parish Council or Ward Councillor to fund initiatives in their community that meet the grant criteria.
The Councillor Grant Scheme will be open for applications from Monday 5th July and will run to the end of January 2022. Application guidance, eligibility criteria and application forms can be found online at www.mybostonuk.com/councillor-grant-scheme
This initiative aims to provide a much needed boost and helping hand for communities in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and enables Parish Councils and Ward Councillors as community leaders to respond to what will make a difference in their local area.
Examples of what the funding could be used for include, but are not limited to;
- Translation materials
- Projects to build stronger relationships in the community / enable engagement between communities
- Covid-19 / Covid recovery related projects
- Vaccination related projects
- Projects to help people with a healthier lifestyle
- Equipment hire or purchases
- Improvement to community facilities
The £48,000 Cllr Grant Scheme is a positive opportunity to invest directly in our communities and is in addition to £20,000 already allocated to the Boston Town Area Committee – BTAC has used its allocation to top up its small grants programme.
Commenting on the launch of the Cllr Grant Scheme, Empowering Healthy Communities Programme Coordinator, Nichola Holderness said: “This is a really important scheme for us and our communities across the Borough. We know that often, a small amount of funding can make a big difference to the excellent work that happens in our local communities. The Councillor Grants Scheme provides a positive opportunity to strengthen relationships between groups within our local communities and their Ward Councillors and Parish Councils – giving people in those areas opportunity to shape what works to make a difference to the areas we know people are passionate about supporting and improving.
“Over the coming year, through our Empowering Healthy Communities Programme, we’re committed to doing all we can to support our communities across Boston Borough. Some of our work through the wider programme has been more targeted but this scheme reaches across the Borough and is an integral part of our programme.”
Cllr Martin Griggs, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Communities and Chairman of the Empowering Health Communities Programme, said: “We’re really excited to launch this scheme, which is the first of its kind in Boston Borough. We’d like to encourage eligible groups to put their ideas and applications forward to join us in helping to make the Borough the very best it can be. Take a look at our website for details and guidance on how to apply, and then make contact with your local ward councillor or parish council to make an application”
For more information on the Councillor Grant Scheme and how to apply, please visit www.mybostonuk.com/councillor-grant-scheme
To find out more about the Empowering Healthy Communities Programme and how you can get involved please visit: https://www.mybostonuk.com/ehcprogramme/
