Grants up to £300k are being made available to voluntary and community groups up for grabs as Hounslow Council launches its second year of the Thriving Communities Fund.

Last year £1,154,008 in total was invested in organisations who helped countless people - and now the Council is hoping the same will be achieved this year.

The grants are available to the voluntary and community sector (VCSE) to help boost projects that will help communities recover from the pandemic.

A virtual event is taking place this Friday (14 May from 10 – 11:30am) to explain the different funds available and how to apply.

This is also a chance to hear from groups who received the funds in previous years and how it helped them.

Creative Spaces, a local community organisation received £18,700 towards 'Hounslow at Home and Beyond', a series of wellbeing sessions for Hounslow residents over twelve months.

A participant who benefited from the project, said; "The sessions run by Creative Spaces have kept me connected with my community, support network and friends throughout the pandemic.

"They push me to go outside of my comfort zone. When I started, I had anxiety, but it's been nice to have support and know people are there for me."

As part of the event, four projects that received funding will feature: Feltham Arts, Project

Turnover, Hounslow Men's Shed and the Bridge Link Centre, including a virtual tour of the Men's Shed.

There are three funding streams which include small grants of up to £1,000, a revenue fund providing grants of up to £25,000 and a capital fund providing grants between £10,000 - £300,000.

Cllr Katherine Dunne, Cabinet Member for Communities and Climate Emergency, said: "We are pleased to announce another year of the Thriving Communities Fund as we start the process of recovery.

"Last year, the Council launched the Thriving Communities Fund to support the VCSE and their clients through the pandemic and beyond.

"The positive impact of this can already be seen. Local groups and charities have been the lifeline for many of our residents and we are committed to helping support them to ensure we can build back a thriving community.

"I would encourage our local voluntary and community groups to attend the online event to find out more, ask any questions and also hear some inspiring stories from the projects we supported last year."

If you would like to find out more about our Thriving Communities Fund, please join the the meeting here

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