COUNCILLORS will be asked to nominate local groups that could benefit from grants of up to £15,000 from their local authority.
Torfaen Borough Council is setting up a small grants scheme worth £100,000 and instead of advertising for applicants to come forward, wants its 46 elected councillors to suggest organisations that could benefit from the funding.
Applicants will have to be nominated by at least one ward councillor and a final decision will be made by the council’s cabinet member for communities, currently Cwmbran Coed Eva Labour member Fiona Cross, on the recommendation of a three-member panel made up of two senior officers from the council’s communities directorate and a representative from Torfaen Voluntary Alliance.
Strengthen ‘resilience’
Applicants will have to show their planned activities will strengthen “resilience” in a “well-targeted way”, to address a specific wellbeing challenge that is most prominent in the local area.
The council says research shows groups such as sports clubs, venues, charities as well as shops and other businesses, which it describes as “community assets”, are “vital in helping individuals remain resilient during a wellbeing crisis.”
It also says communities where such groups and organisations offer “well-targeted activities” often see lower numbers of people needing to access health services or support, such as from social services or homelessness, or requiring intervention such as an anti-social behaviour contract, at an early age.
The fund is intended to help groups develop activities that will support people in their local community.
The council intends applicants to meet with officers and the panel to talk through their proposal rather than relying on extensive application forms and they will have to demonstrate an impact in a particular area.
As a result, the council has agreed to draw on the knowledge of elected councillors to put forward organisations rather than appealing for applicants to come forward.
A trial
The approach of councillors nominating groups and discussing the proposal with the grants panel will be trialled with one organisation before officers consider if any adjustments to the paperwork is required.
A report, by deputy chief executive Dave Leech, stated: “It is proposed that members seek potential applicants rather than an open call being issued via the council’s social media.
“Marketing material will be prepared by the communities team to support members wishing to discuss the fund with potential applicants.”
There will be a limit of three endorsements, or nominations, per councillor for the initial £100,000 tranche of funding and the report states “a ward member endorsement does not mean that a grant will be issued, and there is no guarantee that every ward will receive one or more grants.”
The fund has been set up from a £1.5 million reserve established at the end of the 2021/22 financial year to support what councillors considered to be “key priorities for communities”.
The small grants scheme is included in the more than £500,000 already allocated from the fund, which also includes a spring clean of public spaces, while it has a current balance of £935,000 though the cabinet has agreed up to £200,000 of that will be used for a 3G sports pitch in Blaenavon.
Applications will be considered until the £100,000 has been fully committed.
Councillors will receive a quarterly update on approved applications and remaining funds.