£60,000 set aside for community groups by Sutton Council (From Sutton Guardian)

Sutton Council makes £60,000 available for community groups

10:59am Thursday 1st November 2012 in News By James Pepper

Sutton Council has set aside £60,000 to be shared among voluntary and community groups.

A wide range of organisations are being urged to apply for neighbourhood grants of up to £500 to help their work in the community.

The council has said the scheme is aimed at groups that do well for the community, or want to do well, so whether it is a residents' association needing publicity, a cycling club which needs new helmets, or even a knitting circle wanting to attract members, anyone could be entitled to a share of the money.

Among the groups which have already benefited from the support are Church Hill, Abbotts and Priory Residents Association (CHAPRA) and the Friends of Sutton Common Park.

Sutton Common Park received £500 to plant new trees, while CHAPRA was given £460 to continue its work in better establishing the association in the community, and continuing a clean-up campaign in the area.

CHAPRA chair, Alan Plant, said: "These neighbourhood grants are an excellent idea because they let the people who live in an area, and really know what needs to be done, get on with the job.

"I believe people should take more care of their communities and this grant will help us get more residents involved."

Councillor Simon Wales, lead councillor for finance, assets and the voluntary sector, said: "The Sutton way is to help people take responsibility for their own neighbourhoods, and these grants are a good way of making sure that worthwhile groups and projects are supported.

"I know there are many more groups across the borough which could also put some extra funding to good use, so I urge them to apply."

Application forms are available from sutton.gov.uk, or by calling 0208 770 7391. Successful groups will get a one-off grant for up to £500.