Gloucestershire County Council has awarded over £400,000 to 65 community projects across Gloucestershire through its Thriving Communities Grant 2024.

The Thriving Communities Grant programme aims to invest in Gloucestershire's communities to help local organisations and groups with projects that help people to stay well and support them to live independently for as long as possible.

Since 2018, the grant has supported over 310 projects, investing £2.4 million in local groups across the county. The funding has helped many community and voluntary organisations to connect people to their communities, strengthening ties, reducing isolation, and improving physical and mental wellbeing.

Individual awards range from £627 up to £7,500 and the 65 projects being funded this year include:

• £7,500 for the Family Haven, Gloucester, which supports disadvantaged families including those living with mental health issues, unpaid carers, asylum seekers and refugees
• £7,500 to the ITSA Digital Trust, Cheltenham, for its Tech Connect Community programme which aims to bring technology, digital participation, and digital skills to those who need it most
• £7,500 to Tewkesbury Nature Reserve's 'Out of The Box' project which empowers women to learn how to safely use woodworking power tools to make resources such as bird boxes, bat boxes, bug hotels, hedgehog homes and compost bins
• £7,500 for Building Circles, to establish a new community allotment in Stonehouse for adults with learning disabilities
• £7,500 to Cotswold Friends for its Carer Support Service which provides weekly respite breaks to full-time carers allowing them time for their wellbeing
• £7,500 to Goals Beyond Grass in the Forest of Dean which enhances the lives of disabled adults and children, by reducing social isolation and engaging the whole community in sport and physical activity using a variety of unique activities such as powerchair football, inclusive cycling, and multi-sports.

Full details of all community projects being supported can be found at: What is the Thriving Communities Grant? | Gloucestershire County Council 

Cllr Carole Allaway-Martin, cabinet member for adult social care commissioning at Gloucestershire County Council, said: "I am delighted that we can fund such a diverse range of organisations through the Thriving Communities grant programme which makes such a difference to residents within their local area, reducing isolation and improving wellbeing.

"Since 2018, we have invested £2.4 million which has supported over 310 projects, supporting community and voluntary groups to strengthen local activity and help communities to thrive."