Demand high for £2 million community fund

COMMUNITY groups from Rotherham are now waiting to find out if they have won funding from a £2 million community pot after bids worth four times as much were submitted.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority said “huge numbers” of applications had been made to the Stronger Safer Communities Reserve fund.

The fund aims to promote community safety across South Yorkshire and is nearly four times over-subscribed.

Ninety-three organisations have made bids totalling almost £7.4 million in the first round of bidding for the one-off funding.

Applicants have included schools, housing associations, children's centres and a miners welfare club, with the smallest bid being for £1,300 and the largest for over £300,000.

Officers will now carry out an assessment process before the Authority makes its first awards at its meeting on March 31.

Cllr Jim Andrews, chairman of the fire and rescue authority, said: “It’s excellent news that we've had so many organisations interested in our fund to help local communities promote the community safety message.

“Given the number of applicants, we will clearly need to prioritise the very best bids.

“We will be supporting the projects that really go the extra mile to help keep people safe.”

A second round of bidding is expected to open in April.