More than £500,000 in grant funding has now been awarded to community groups and voluntary organisations across Chesterfield – helping them to deliver key projects that have a positive impact on local communities.
As part of the Community Grants Fund scheme, which was launched by Chesterfield Borough Council in 2023, the latest round of funding from the scheme has seen a share of £75,282 awarded to 19 groups across the borough.
This means that since the Community Grants Fund scheme was first launched, a total of £527,911 has now been awarded to community groups and voluntary organisations from across Chesterfield through 103 successful grant applications.
Grants are already being used to deliver projects that build resilient, healthy, and safe neighbourhoods right across the borough - from providing funding to set up foodbanks or community hubs that allow people to come together, to helping deliver events in local communities and helping local people get back in to work.
It is also supporting initiatives that will reduce the borough’s impact on the climate and wider environment by promoting greener choices.
The latest groups to receive support from the Community Grants Fund scheme are:
- Barrow Hill Community Trust
- Transition Chesterfield
- Don Catchment Rivers Trust
- St John Ambulance
- Friends of Eastwood Park
- African Caribbean Community Association
- Duckmanton Miners Welfare Centre
- Mastin Moor Miners Welfare
- Ozbox
- b:friend
- The Friends of Pearson Park
- Chesterfield Foodbank
- Parish Centre Stonegravels
- Poolsbrook Club Community Committee
- Friends of Thistle Park, Brimington
- Kakou CIC
- Friends of Stand Road Park
- Pain Inspired
- Community Development Chesterfield
Kakou CIC will be using funding received through the Community Grants Fund scheme to deliver a kitchen garden for The Rectory Community Pub and help bring people together.
Kakou’s Ann Fomukong-Boden said: “We’re absolutely delighted to receive this funding for The Rectory Kitchen Garden Project. This funding means we can turn our pub’s beer garden into something much more — a thriving kitchen garden that not only supports our pub kitchen but also brings the community together.
“Fresh produce grown here will go straight into our meals, while our gardening club will help people connect, learn, and support their wellbeing. It’s a chance to grow food, friendships, and a stronger, more sustainable future for The Rectory and our community.”
Elsewhere, Friends of Thistle Park, will be using the grant funding to replace surfacing in the play area that has become worn over time – ensuring that local families can continue to enjoy the much-loved park in Brimington.
The chair of Friends of Thistle Park, said: “We are thrilled to receive this funding, which will make a real difference to the community. The resurfacing will enhance the play area into a space that children can enjoy all year round, and we are grateful to Chesterfield Borough Council for their support.
“We will continue to work towards transforming the park for the benefit of local residents and visitors, and this project marks an important step in their ongoing commitment to improving community facilities.”
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 can have a huge impact on our local communities – and we’re really proud that we’re able to support them through this funding.
“It has allowed us to support so many groups and organisations that work tirelessly to deliver projects and initiatives and make a real difference to the lives of local people.
“It has been great to hear from the groups about how the funding is being used so far and the impact that it is having on local residents, and I am looking forward to hearing more about how the latest groups and organisations are using the grants to make a difference in our community.”
Funding for the grants scheme was successfully secured from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), together with money raised through the Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Portion (CIL).
The Community Grants Fund has received £120,500 from East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) from funding provided by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
