The Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership has £27,000 funding available to be spent on the local area and groups and organisations are being invited to apply for a share.
All 14 Area Action Partnerships (AAPs) across the county are providing an opportunity for local groups and organisations to apply for a community grant through a participatory budgeting activity to help deliver projects and activities locally.
Participatory budgeting (PB) directly involves local people in making decisions on spending and priorities. The process involves residents and community groups from all parts of the local area coming together to discuss and vote on a range of projects developed for the benefit of the area.
Groups are invited to apply for grants of between £1,000 and £2,500 as long as the project fits into one or more of GAMP’s priorities: activities for young people, employment, enterprise, education and training and support to the community and voluntary groups.
The projects which meet the criteria will be invited to the partnership’s next forum event in November where the public will be able to get more information to help them choose their favourites.
At a time of increased pressure on council budgets, the authority recognises the importance of ensuring the public are able to influence decision-making.
The Community Grants Fund and budget consultation are an important part of giving people the chance to decide how public money is spent.
Cllrs Eddy Adam, Jed Hillary, Mike Dixon, John Clare, Kate Hopper, Sarah Iveson and Joan Gray contributed to the funding with £1,000 each from their Neighbourhood Budgets.
For further information and an application pack please contact the GAMP Team on 327441 or at gampaap@durham.gov.uk
The closing date for applications is 13th September.