Launching ‘Funding In-communities' 2024
We’re delighted to announce that the 2024 ‘Funding In-communities' is now open.
The fund awards community groups a much-needed injection of funds to support their good work. It’s open to any voluntary community group that directly benefits Incommunities customers.
Eligible projects could include food banks, children’s playgroups, social clubs, art classes—anything that is well-used by people who live in homes provided by Incommunities.
There is £60,000 available to support the great work of these voluntary groups across our district.
This year’s beneficiaries will be chosen by an independent panel made up of Incommunities customers, colleagues, and board members. The winners will be split by area, with the first round of the fund being announced at a celebratory evening at Keighley Civic Hall on 23rd October 5.30pm - 8pm. Followed by a second celebration for the Bradford South applicants on 27th November 2024.
There will be two further celebratory evenings for other areas of Bradford, these will be announced in early 2025.
Previous winners of the community funding include Cottingley Community Centre’s Memory Lane Afternoon Teas, which support people dealing with Alzheimer’s or Dementia.
Helen Eteson, the Community Centre Manager said, “The funding helped us make these events much more wonderful. It covered the cost of the food we provided, but the biggest help was enabling us to pay for entertainers to come to the group and for the equipment we used to bring a ‘beach’ indoors. Bringing the ‘beach’ into our community centre was such a fun experience for everyone to enjoy.”
Another beneficiary was a women’s wellness retreat at the Rockwell Centre in Ravenscliffe.
The retreat provided a space to switch off from the stress and worry of everyday life and take part in arts and crafts, yoga, and meditation.
One of the participants said, “Everything was wonderful. The activities were great, and meeting new people and chatting with like-minded ladies was really empowering. I would be very happy to come again!”
The full list of community groups that benefitted from the last round of funding includes:
- Hainworth Road Community Centre: A luncheon club, toddler group, computer access, seated exercise, community kitchen, warm space provision, food bank projects, and weekly emergency parcels.
- Sandale Trust: A café that provides meals for families in Buttershaw who are skipping meals.
- Millside Centre: A bread-making therapy project that helps victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and trauma by providing a safe space for therapeutic bread-making sessions.
- Cottingley Cornerstones: Memory Lane Afternoon Tea, a bi-monthly event aimed at reducing social isolation, especially for those affected by Alzheimer’s and Dementia. The group provides a safe place for residents to meet others, including groups from local care homes.
- Rockwell Centre: Bloomin' Look After Yourself – This project assists residents facing food poverty by providing access to social activities, outdoor spaces, and self-care packages. They offer sessions in yoga, meditation, mindful arts and crafts, as well as services like manicures and hand massages as a treat.
- Café West: Cooking through the Gap supports customers facing hardship due to the cost of energy and lack of appropriate cooking appliances. The project purchased 60 air fryers and mini ovens to help them cook low-cost meals.
If anyone has any questions about the Funding In-communities, please email getinvolved@incommunities.co.uk. Incommunities is happy to provide support to complete the application.