Community led groups and organisations can now bid for a share of £1.5million from Essex County Council’s Community Initiatives Fund (CIF).

Last year’s applications resulted in 90 individual projects awarded sums of up to £20,000.

CIF is a small grants scheme funded by Essex County Council which is designed to support community projects that:

• create, procure or develop new community projects

• enhance existing community projects

• enhance or develop initiatives that strengthen a community.

Community led groups and organisations within the 12 districts, boroughs and the City of Chelmsford can apply to the fund for local projects.

Local panels approving the allocation of funds are made up of representatives from parish and town councils, local CVS (Community Voluntary Service) and other voluntary and charitable organisations and are exclusive to each area.

Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Libraries, Planning and the Environment, Cllr Roger Hirst, said: “The Community Initiatives Fund is an excellent example of how Essex County Council is supporting communities to help themselves.

“By increasing the opportunities for local residents, community groups and volunteers individually to shape their local facilities and undertake new ventures, we will see them make Essex an even better place to live and work than it is today.”

The fund has been designed to be as flexible and responsive as possible to the needs of the community, and to support this aim there are two parts to the fund:

• CIF (subject to a maximum application of £20,000 for any one project)

• CIF Response (subject to a maximum application of £15,000 for any one project) for time critical projects only.

Further information about CIF and how to apply for funding can be found at www.essex.gov.uk/cif