Local small grants for regeneration projects

Award winning Guy Fox History Project working with children from Tower Bridge School learnt about the history of Tower Bridge and produced a delightful educational leaflet and website.

The Small Grants Fund was established in 1997 as a way of enabling local people to get actively involved in regenerating their local community by undertaking small projects that are important to them.

Over the years the grants have been used for a variety of purposes including educational walks linked to the national curriculum, history-based craft workshops and events, gardening and planting events and basketball programmes for teenagers.

Other initiatives funded by the grants include a teddy bear's Hospital to allay children's fears about doctors, community nursery improvements, cookery workshops on healthy affordable eating and food hygiene and training events for local residents to help them apply for jobs and prepare for job interviews.

"The standard of applications in the past has been really high," says Sarah Potter from Groundwork Southwark which manages the scheme. " Last year eighteen great projects were funded through the Small Grants Fund and we are looking forward to receiving applications from a broad range of organisations looking to deliver their projects between April 2006 and February 2007."

Applications are being invited from schools, local businesses and community groups for grants of up to £2,000. All the projects funded must fit one of the PLP's Small Grants themes: Getting ready for work, Learning to make a difference or Making a better place.

If you have an idea for a suitable project which your organisation can deliver in the Pool of London extended area contact Sarah Potter at Groundwork Southwark for an application pack, Tel: 0845 434 9601 or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected]. The application form and guidelines are available to download from the Pool of London Partnership website. The deadline for submitting applications is 12 noon on 10 February 2006.

The PLP Small Grants Fund is match funded by PricewaterhouseCoopers as part of its Community Affairs strategy in Southwark.