£3/4 million of Grassroots Grants now available to voluntary and community groups in

North Yorkshire

The Government’s groundbreaking Grassroots Grants scheme has now declared itself open for business and calls on small local voluntary and community groups in North Yorkshire to come forward and get their hands on this funding.

Whether it’s helping local clubs get hold of new kit, coaching new volunteers or simply giving the village hall a fresh lick of paint, Grassroots Grants aim to make a real and immediate difference to the work of North Yorkshire’s small and local community groups.

Over £3/4 million has been awarded to the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) who, in partnership with York and North Yorkshire Community Foundation (YNYCF), aim to distribute grants from £250 up to £5,000 over 3 years. Grants are available to voluntary and community groups with annual incomes below £20,000.

The programme is funded by the Office of The Third Sector in the Cabinet Office and administered by the Community Development Foundation.

Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, said:

North Yorkshire is full of small groups and individuals who work tirelessly to tackle local problems and this fund is dedicated to supporting their efforts. Grassroots Grants will put essential cash in the hands of small local voluntary groups without all the paper work required for larger grants.

Alison Seabrooke, CDF Chief Executive said:

“Grassroots Grants is exciting as it provides funding for community groups now and into the future. Grassroots Grants reaches out to grassroots groups which may have never even considered applying for grant funding before. Grassroots Grants is all about building a strong, independent third sector, and the Community Development Foundation is delighted to be administering such an innovative programme.”

YDMT in partnership with YNYCF will distribute grants directly over the upcoming years, selected because they are familiar with the needs and causes in the area.

If you live in Craven, Harrogate, Richmondshire or Selby District Council areas then please contact the Grassroots Grants Officer at the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, Old Post Office, Main Street, Clapham, LA2 8DP. Tel: 015242 51002 or email: gillian.muir@ydmt.org

OR

If you live in Hambleton, Ryedale, Scarborough or Selby District Council areas then please contact York and North Yorkshire Community Foundation, Primrose Hill, Buttercrambe Road, Stamford Bridge, York, YO41 1AW. www.ynycf.org.uk Tel. 01759 377400 or email: office@ynycf.org.uk.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Any enquiries about the Grassroots Grants programme, please go to Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, Old Post Office, Main Street, Clapham, LA2 8DP. Tel: 015242 51002, Fax: 015242 51150, email: gillian.muir@ydmt.org OR York and North Yorkshire Community Foundation, Primrose Hill, Buttercrambe Road, Stamford Bridge, York, YO41 1AW. www.ynycf.org.uk Tel. 01759 377400 or email: office@ynycf.org.uk

2. As part of the Cabinet Office, the Office of the Third Sector leads work across government to support the environment for a thriving third sector (voluntary and community groups, social enterprises, charities, cooperatives and mutuals), enabling the sector to campaign for change, deliver public services, promote