Category Archives: Hull

GRANTS from £100 – £5,000 will be made available for community projects under Yorkshire Water’s proposed new Community Fund being established to benefit Hedon, Preston, Paull and the Marfleet area of East Hull.

The first meeting to discuss the new Community Fund and establish the decision-making Committee took place last night at the Saltend Waste Water Treatment Works. While the fine details of the criteria are still being considered, the outline of the new funding stream has been agreed:

• £50,000 will be dispensed in grants over two years – £25,000 per year (running from April – March each year).
• Minimum grant £100 – Maximum grant £5,000.
• Organisations will be encouraged to apply for projects that can demonstrate that they benefit people living in the following post code areas – HU9 5, HU9 4, HU12 8, HU12 9, HU11 4.
• Grants will not be given for salaries or ongoing running costs of a project.
• Parish and Town Councils will be excluded from applying.
• Projects must be able to demonstrate some long-lasting benefit to communities i.e. applications for one-off events would not be supported.
• For those groups asking for larger grants, then preference will be given to projects that also bring in additional funding from other sources. 
• Funding ’rounds’ will be established with clear deadlines for when applications should be submitted. Each round will be 6-weeks long during which groups will be invited to make applications.

The meeting facilitated by the Yorkshire Water Community Engagement Team, was attended by Councillors from East Riding Council (South West Holderness Ward), Hedon Town Council, Preston Parish Council and Paull Parish Council. Councillors from the Hull City Council (Marfleet Ward) had been invited but did not attend. These Councillors will form the main membership of the decision-making Committee. East Riding Councillor Mike Bryan was elected its Chair. 

The Committee will meet again on the 28th May to consider the details of the criteria which will determine how applications are assessed and the guidance that will be given to those applying for funding.

The first round of the new Community Fund is not likely to be open for applications until June 2012. However, groups that already have an idea for a project can send a brief outline as an expression an interest, to Dafydd Williams from Yorkshire Water’s Community Engagement Team at e-mail: dafydd.williams@yorkshirewater.co.uk and further information and application packs can be sent out when available if applicable.