Up to £20,000 available via the Neighbourhood Grant...
Apply for a grant today!
Watford’s Neighbourhood Grant is now officially open, offering local people the opportunity to access grants ranging from a couple of hundred pounds to up to £20,000, to address the impact of new development in the area and ensure local people benefit from sustainable growth in the borough.
The funding, which has been generated from new housing developments otherwise known as Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), is awarded by Watford Borough Council to local projects that will improve, benefit and shape the development of the town’s communities. This will be the first year that members of the community can apply for funding and will be available on an annual basis.
To ensure grassroots involvement by people in their local area, grant allocations will be influenced through a poll on other people’s suggestions and ideas for where money should be spent. This will be achieved through the council’s new engagement platform at watfordneighbourhoodgrant.commonplace.is, which will have geographically-focused interactive maps, where users can pin their feedback to specific locations to help understand what local residents are saying - and where.
For those interested in applying to help make a real difference to their neighbourhood, applications can be made until the deadline on 5 August. The money can be used for a multitude of projects, with guidelines from CIL stating funding should be spent on infrastructure or 'anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places on an area'. This includes but is not limited to:
- Environmental improvements – such as landscaping and enhancing open spaces
- New or improved play spaces and facilities
- Public art and Street furniture
- Community safety measures (eg CCTV, lighting)
- Traffic calming measures
- Equipment for a community group
- Provision of more facilities for the community
- Projects that are beneficial to a local ward area or broader community
- The improvement of local facilities such as community centres or sports halls
*The Neighbourhood Grant can be used for public art like the King George V Playing Fields sign
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “We want our communities to feel engaged and included in the future development of their neighbourhood, street, road, park or community centre. Therefore, we are delighted to launch this fund and I invite you to begin developing your project bids now.
“We hope many local organisations will take advantage of the grants available. We want to support projects that will make a real difference to the lives of people in our communities. We also hope to see a wide range of proposals from our diverse communities that will help people get more actively involved in their neighbourhoods. To ensure the best chances for success, get involved early and share your ideas with your ward councillors.”
To find out more and apply, please visit watfordneighbourhoodgrant.commonplace.is or email NCIL@watford.gov.uk.
*The Neighbourhood Grant can be used for public art like the Watford FC Mural in Vicarage Road
