Community groups across Chesterfield are being encouraged to apply for funding to help bring local projects and ideas to life, as the Community Grants Fund reopens for applications.
More than £128,000 has already been awarded to help deliver local projects this year, and community groups and voluntary organisations are now being invited to apply for a share of a further £120,000 as the scheme reopens.
Eligible local groups can apply for grants of between £500 and £6,000 to deliver grassroots projects that improve life for local people.
The Community Grant Fund, delivered by Chesterfield Borough Council, supports local initiatives that strengthen neighbourhoods, promote health and wellbeing, expand volunteering opportunities, and encourage greener choices that help reduce the borough’s environmental impact.
Since the fund launched in 2023, more than £600,000 has now been awarded to local groups and is already helping to deliver a wide range of projects across the borough - from establishing foodbanks and creating community hubs, to supporting local events and helping residents develop skills and access employment.
Further details on the types of projects that can be funded via the grant scheme, along with the eligibility criteria.
Applications are open until Friday 23 October.
Councillor Tricia Gilby leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “We really are lucky to have so many community groups and voluntary organisations here in Chesterfield that work tirelessly to deliver projects and initiatives and make a real difference to the lives of local people – and we’re really proud that we’re able to support them through this scheme.
“Since the council launched the scheme in 2023, the Community Grants Fund has helped local groups to deliver more than 100 projects that are having a significant impact on our local communities and now applications have reopened, we’ll be able to help even more.
“It has been great to see how the funding has already been used for a variety of different projects and I’m looking forward to hearing how this latest round of grant funding will benefit our communities.”
One of the groups awarded grant funding through the scheme this year is 3rd Brampton Scout Group, and the money is already being used to buy additional equipment which will allow even more young people to get involved.
Ben Widdowson, group lead volunteer, 3rd Brampton (St Thomas') Scout Group, said: “We are grateful to Chesterfield Borough Council in supporting the Scout Group to purchase new tents to accommodate the growing number of young people wanting to join us. Camping is an integral part of our programme and being able to have sufficient numbers of modern tents make for a better experience and allow young people to develop new friendships and life skills.”
Funding for the Community Grants Fund scheme for 2026 to 2028 is delivered by funds which Chesterfield Borough Council has raised through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Neighbourhoods portion, along with support from Chesterfield Town Board which has chosen to allocate funding from the UK Government’s Pride in Place programme to the scheme.
Simon Davidson, local business owner and member of Chesterfield Town Board which oversees the Chesterfield Pride in Place programme said: “Supporting local people to make a real difference in their communities – delivering the things that are important to them – is a key part of the Pride in Place programme, so we’re really pleased to see that some of this funding is being used to support local voluntary and community organisations to deliver key projects.
“The Community Grants Fund scheme that Chesterfield Borough Council has successfully delivered for the past three years aligns with these values, and that is why the Chesterfield Town Board took the decision to invest Pride in Place funding into the project – allowing it to support even more fantastic initiatives.”
The council provides community development support for groups wishing to apply. The team can be contacted at:
Email: communitygrants@chesterfield.gov.uk
Phone: 01246 959657 or 01246 959415
Post: Community Grants Fund
Health and Wellbeing Officer,
Chesterfield Borough Council,
Town Hall,
Chesterfield,
S40 1LP
