Tameside Community Inspiration and Innovation Fund 2023-24

COMMUNITY Safety Partnerships are launching the Tameside Community Inspiration and Innovation Fund for 2023.

Applications for grants of up to £2,000 – drawing on money made available by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority – will be accepted throughout March. 

The fund, which allocated £60,000 last year, is based on participatory budgeting which means the decision on who gets money, and how much, is taken at public community events in each of the borough’s four geographical neighbourhoods during May and June. It’s a principle that has proved very successful and extremely effective in bringing people together and giving them a voice.

To qualify, community groups and charities need a project based around one or more of four themes: Keeping people safe, preventing and reducing youth anti-social behaviour, strengthening communities through green spaces, supporting poverty and vulnerability.

Applications are especially welcome from new groups and particularly youth diversionary schemes. Previous winners are free to reapply but will need to explain and demonstrate significant development within the above themes.

Cllr Vimal Choksi, Tameside Council’s executive member for towns and communities, said: “The Tameside Recovery Fund and Building Stronger Communities Fund have both proved very successful over the last two years. They provide a great and fun way for groups to get some much-needed money to support their activities and promote what they do. 

“We have many community groups in Tameside, all doing a very valuable job. I hope they will again take advantage of this chance to get a welcome financial boost.”

Information and application forms can be obtained from Action Together’s website –www.actiontogether.org.uk – or by contacting community safety project Officers sue.moorcroft@tameside.gov.uk (Ashton, Dukinfield, Mossley, Stalybridge) or sharron.power@tameside.gov.uk  (Audenshaw, Denton, Droylsden, Longdendale, Hattersley, Hyde). 

Last year’s Building Stronger Community Fund winners were:

East – Dukinfield: Lifeline Community Ambulance, Moravian Church, People’s Community, 2nd Dukinfield Scouts. Stalybridge: Baptist Church, Cancer Warriors, Heyrod Residents’ Association, Holy Trinity Church, Reach Church. Mossley: Andrew Street Pond Association, Friends of Mossley Base, Methodist Church, Mossley Community Centre.

North (Ashton): Curzon Community Foundation; Indian Community Centre; Infinity Initiatives; Key to the Door; Manchester City Mission; Oasis Hub; Rough Diamonds; St John’s Church, Hurst; Smallshaw Hurst Community Action; Tameside Women’s Cycling; Waterloo Wednesday Club.

South – Hattersley: Community Matters, Fit Over 50, Prime Active Communities. Longdendale: Mottram Cricket Club, St Mary’s Church, Hollingworth. Hyde: Bangladeshi Welfare Association; Communities CIC, Hyde Little Theatre, Mentell, Newton Residents’ Association, POP.

West – Droylsden: Community Cutz CIC, Droylsden Youth Centre, Ensemble Theatre, Fairfield Moravian Settlement Residents’ Association; Lincoln Avenue Residents’ Association, 250th St Mary’s Scouts. Denton: Friends of Denton Cricket Club.