Funding Boost for Estates in West Bromwich

Published by Sandeep for Riverside in Housing and also in Communities

One of the UK’s largest social landlord, Riverside, is offering community groups in Havills Hawthorn and Millfield estates the chance to apply for funding of up to £10,000 to support local projects.

Since the Environmental Challenge Fund was set up in 2006, Riverside has awarded over £90,930 to community groups and projects in the Sandwell area, with a variety of schemes benefiting from the funds.

Riverside who manages the two estates on behalf of Sandwell Council, have £25,000 available through the Environmental Challenge Fund which is overseen by the Neighbourhood Monitoring Panel who approve the amount of funding for projects.

Recent projects have included £4000 contribution to the refurbishment of the kitchen at the community bungalow, to enable hot meals to be prepared for group members and a gardening club at Marmion House has also been established by the fund.  Community Impact days – which encourages residents to responsibly dispose of household waste, fire safety booklets for the Harvills Hawthorn and Moorlands primary schools, shelters for outdoor classrooms for both the schools, money towards the dragon bench on Balls Hill open space and a contribution towards the residents summer fayres have all received generous cash windfalls.

Lynda Cooke, Riverside’s Community Involvement Officer said: "Local community and voluntary groups, including schools, can make applications of up to £10,000 for community related projects. The Environmental Challenge Fund process is a fast-track process enabling successful applicants to receive their funds promptly after the application is approved.  We make this money available each year to benefit the local community of the Harvills Hawthorn area which Riverside mange on behalf of Sandwell Council."

Councillor Simon Hackett, Sandwell's cabinet member for housing described it as a "fantastic initiative" for residents on the Harvills Hawthorn and Millfield estates. "This is a great opportunity for people to bid for this money and use it to make a real difference to their local communities. We look forward to seeing what applications come in and how the money will be spent on improving life for local people."

For further information about the fund or to receive an application pack please contact Lynda Cooke on 0845 111 0022.