Grants boost community support in South Cambridgeshire

Art for mental health, domestic abuse support and a community transport charity are among groups sharing a grant funding pot of more than £180,000 from South Cambridgeshire District Council.

The Service Support Grants are being awarded for advice services, independent living, mental health and wellbeing and to provide support to the wider voluntary and community sector.

Eleven non-profit groups will share a total of £167,400. They are:

• Arts and Minds - providing a range of arts to support the positive mental health of communities across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
• Cambridgeshire Older People’s Enterprise (COPE) - representing the voices of people over 50.
• Citizens Advice - providing advice, education and support on a wide range of financial and other matters.
• Cambridge Dial-a-Ride - providing local transport services that are safe, affordable, and accessible to people who have difficulty accessing public transport.
• Disability Huntingdonshire (DISH) – offering benefits advice, guidance and support for disabled people and their carers.
• REACH Community Projects – giving debt advice, benefits help, housing, emergency food, utility assistance and more.
• Royston and District Community Transport (RDCT) - offering door-to-door transport seven days a week for people who can’t use conventional public transport due to age, frailty, impaired mobility or lack of public transport.
• The Voluntary Network - providing community transport and a befriending service across West Suffolk and neighbouring Cambridgeshire.
• Home Start Royston - supporting local families with children aged 9 and under who are struggling with post-natal depression, isolation, physical and mental health problems, relationship problems, bereavement and many other issues.
• Cambridge Council for Voluntary Service (CCVS) - championing and supporting community and voluntary groups and promoting volunteering.
• Care Network Cambridgeshire – supporting and advocating for community car schemes and their clients, and campaigning for volunteer drivers.

Additionally, £14,250 has been allocated to three organisations:

• Cambridge Cyrenians - supporting people in Cambridge experiencing or at risk of homelessness, through short and long stay, flats and shared houses.
• Cambridge Reuse - helping people on low income or benefits buy furniture, white goods and other household items.
• Cambridge Women’s Aid - providing dedicated and specialist services to women and children affected by domestic abuse including a safe refuge in Cambridge, community outreach, advice for professionals supporting women and Live Chat support.

Cllr John Williams, Lead Cabinet Member for Resources for South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Service Support Grants empower local volunteers and community groups to carry out a wide range of invaluable work. These funds are dedicated to ensuring that everyone in our community has access to the support and resources they need. We carefully monitor the use of these grants over the three-year period and are excited to see the positive impact they will continue to have on our residents.”

The funding was discussed in a meeting of South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Grants Advisory Committee