We are inviting community groups and voluntary organisations from across Chesterfield to apply for support from our Community Grants Fund. 

For the majority of the funding available this year (£95,000), for revenue and smaller capital projects the minimum grant is £500, and the maximum grant per application is £6,000.

The Community Grants Fund aims to support local projects that will help to build resilient, healthy, and safe neighbourhoods, as well as initiatives which will help reduce the borough’s impact on the climate and wider environment by promoting greener choices.

Funding can also be used by community projects to develop volunteering opportunities, help people prepare to get in to work, and to support organisations to expand their reach into different areas of the borough.

Further details on the types of projects that can be funded via the grant scheme can be found in the Community Funding Grant Guidance. Please take some time to read this document before completing your application.

Examples

Here are some examples of community groups and voluntary organisations that have used grant funding:

• outdoor learning supporting nursery children and families
• community hub projects providing free food and social activities
• Recovery Bike Workshops supporting recovering addicts
• one to one and group support for vulnerable adults
• gardening project introducing families to green spaces and home grown food
• dementia support project reducing social isolation and general wellbeing
• accessibility project providing online information on key venues and facilities
• renewal projects supporting community hubs with updated facilities 

Community groups that have a green project

We’re also keen to hear from community groups who have a project that could help promote greener choices across Chesterfield and reduce the impact on climate change in our borough.

Some example projects include, but are not limited to:

• reducing reliance on car use; promoting and supporting walking, cycling and low carbon travel
• developing community gardens with a focus on growing your own fruit and vegetables
• waste minimisation, improving recycling rates, reduction of food waste, or facilitating item repair / reuse / upcycling
• installation of energy efficiency measures or renewable energy technologies at community buildings or facilities
• projects intended to reduce material consumption through lending schemes, or support for redistributing old items 

Who can apply?

We welcome applications from your organisation if:

• you are a not-for-profit organisation
• you have a constitution or written set of rules for the organisation
• you have a bank account in your group’s name and at least two people (not related to one another) are required to sign any cheque or withdrawal from the account (please contact communitygrants@chesterfield.gov.uk if you do not have a bank account but would like to apply)
• you have a set of accounts and make these available for inspection
• your group can run the activity and complete the application form, even if you get some help with this; the contact for the grant and the person signing the form must be a member of the group or its management committee
• your activities begin and costs are incurred after receipt of the grant. You must also spend the entire grant and complete activities we have funded within 12 months of receipt of the grant; if you are successful with an application to the Community Grants Fund, you may apply again at a later stage but for different/additional reasons
• your group or activity is open to everyone; if your activity is not open to everyone, you need to tell us why and the assessment panel will decide if your application is eligible
• the proposed activity is based in Chesterfield borough 

Applying to the Community Grants Fund  

We strongly encourage all applicants to discuss their project with their Community Development Worker before completing an application.

The final phase of the Community Grants Fund will be open between 13 September and 25 October 2024. 

Contact and support

Alongside the Community Grants Fund, the council is running a community development project which will provide support to organisations wanting to apply for the grant. If you would like any help or guidance with submitting a bid, please contact us.

Email: communitygrants@chesterfield.gov.uk

Phone: 01246 959657 or 07790 977317

Post:

Community Grants Fund, c/o Wendy Blunt,
Health and Wellbeing Officer,
Chesterfield Borough Council,
Town Hall,
Chesterfield,
S40 1LP 

Useful documents

Council Plan 2023 to 2027

Community Grants Fund Guidance	(PDF 123 KB)
Community Grants Fund Guidance - Appendices	(PDF 275 KB)
Budget and outputs table	(Word 16 KB)

UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) information

The council has secured funding for the scheme from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), together with money raised through the Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Portion (CIL).