Denbighshire Community Development Support
The recently launched Brenig Windfarm Fund and eagerly anticipated Clocaenog Windfarm Fund have created an exciting buzz in communities across the county hoping to successfully bid for funding. With a combined value of circa £900,000 per annum, it is easy to understand why, these two new community benefit funds provide a brilliant opportunity for many communities within Denbighshire, particularly in some of our most rural areas.
In the north of the county, communities already have access to a number of offshore windfarm funds with a combine value of more than £950,000. These funds include the Gwynt y Môr Windfarm Fund, Burbo Bank Windfarm Fund, Rhyl Flats Windfarm Fund and North Hoyle Windfarm Fund. Considered alongside the new additions mentioned above, windfarm funds now provide community grant funding opportunities for a significant proportion of Denbighshire.
Nevertheless, communities across the whole county are able to apply for a broad range of other grant funds, some of these funds are theme specific and others are more flexible. When developing a community project and seeking funding, it is important that communities carefully consider all funding options available to them and are able to present a strong case to demonstrate their project’s value. The Denbighshire Community Development team are able to help with this:
They can offer a broad range of support and guidance to groups across Denbighshire who are developing their own community projects. This includes City, Town and Community Councils.
The support offered is flexible to suit each group’s needs but most commonly the team offer guidance on topics such as funding availability, project development and community planning. The team can also act as a critical friend to help critique applications and business plans, providing strategic commentary.
The Community Development Team often signposts to key contacts within the Council. For example, if you need to speak to someone about a council function such as planning, parks, support for vulnerable people, business development, etc. the team can put you in touch with key council colleagues and other public sector colleagues.
We also signpost to Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC), the membership body for the voluntary and community sector in the county. DVSC provides support in areas such as volunteering best practice, guidance on good governance, including a FREE organisational health check, advice on how to set up as a group or organisation and support using Funding Wales and Denbighshire Volunteers websites.
Their Winter Funding Fair launched the latest round of DVSC community led grants which will be open to the 23rd January. Their Spring Funding Fair takes place on Wednesday 25th March from 10-1pm. Funders will be on hand to provide advice. To register your attendance please follow this link bit.ly/SpringFundingFair2020.
If you would like support to develop a community project or idea please get in touch with our Community Development Team via email: communitydevelopment@denbighshire.gov.uk or phone 01824 706000
For more information on funding availability and community development please visit our community planning webpage: http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/community-planning
To find out more about the support on offer from DVSC please visit: https://www.dvsc.co.uk/ or call: 01824 702441