Funds available for Trent Valley communities caring for their local area

Money is available to help people living in the Trent Valley transform their local environment. The Wildlife Trusts are encouraging groups to plan, deliver and apply for projects before the next deadline of 25th February 2020.

Groups can apply for up to £2000 from the Transforming the Trent Valley (TTTV) community grants scheme, which can be used for up to 50% of the total project costs. The scheme is funded by players of the National Lottery.

Communities can apply online by visiting Staffordshire Wildlife Trust website and their project must take place within the TTTV scheme area.

Projects could include building a wildlife area in a school garden, creating an arts trail along the River Trent, restoring part of a historic building or putting on an event to enable children to explore the outdoors.

Karen Eynon, Programme Manager for the Trent Valley at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust says; “Our local environment and its wildlife is often cared for by volunteers and communities and we are delighted that funding is available, which could help people put some of their dream plans into practise.”

Four organisations were successful in the first round of community grant applications and were awarded a total of £5,750 earlier this year. They included Staffordshire Care Rural Development CIC who were awarded £2000 to support wildlife and conservation volunteering on the River Dove through their WELLIES project. WELLIES work with adults suffering from poor mental health. The grant will allow them to run sessions making bird and bat boxes and put them up on land along the River Dove, providing opportunities to learn practical conservation and woodworking skills.

Nicola Lynes, Community Engagement Officer for Transforming the Trent Valley said “This fantastic pot of funding from The National Lottery Heritage Funding is enabling communities to transform Trent Valley’s environment. We’ve awarded four grants so far and look forward to hearing from the next round of applications.

Support Staffordshire is also inviting people who live and work in the area to join the Community Grants Panel and volunteer twice a year to help review the applications. Please contact Nicola Lynes, Community Engagement Officer by email at nicola.lynes@supportstaffordshire.org.uk or call 078 3712 7165