Community Challenge Fund

Essex County Council opens applications for a new Community Challenge fund

Funding is now available from Essex County Council for a new Community Challenge Fund, to enable direct investment into local communities. It is hoped the fund will be used to help connect local people and give them the power to make a real difference in improving their own neighbourhoods.

Bids will be awarded to small scale projects between the value of £300- £2,000 to fund a new, not for profit scheme, group, initiative, or idea.

Applicants can only apply if they are: - 

• Applying as an individual
• Applying as a group (The applicant and other individuals they are working with) 
• An un-constituted group (small scale voluntary groups who do not have any employees and who do not pay trustees or staff)

Ideas may include setting up a food growing initiative in the local community to create a garden or social space, or creating an informal childcare club of likeminded parents in the local library, money needed for training and equipment to share skills; printing for a local event or newsletter; hosting and promoting an online magazine for young people; setting up a local community seed exchange; providing taxi or licenced hire vehicles to bring isolated residents together or maybe setting up a clothes swap initiative.

Applications are open now and will operate on a rolling basis, so there is no deadline for applications. The fund is specifically targeted at communities in the identified levelling up areas of Clacton, Harwich, Canvey, Harlow, Rural Braintree and parts of Colchester and Basildon.

Applications can be made via www.essexfuture.org.uk/boards-networks/communities-mission-network/community-challenge-fund-applications