£10K chnce for Sutton Bridge Community groups

Community groups can apply for up to £10,000 each to make their village a better place to ‘live, work and play’.

Groups, organisations and individuals can bid for cash to fund ideas in Sutton Bridge – with residents then getting the chance to vote on who gets the money.

Lincolnshire Police has made £15,000 available as part of the Building Better Bridge project – with groups able to ask for up to £10,000 as a share of the pot.

The idea is to promote a better sense of community and the project comes off the back of the World Cafe coffee morning last September – run by the police and Mutual Gain.

Sutton Bridge is one of four locations in the county chosen to be part of the project.

Mark Housley, operational superintendent, said: “Local people have been working towards establishing a community group to help tackle local issues, the issues that matter to you.

“The groups are now established and growing. In the last few months, the community has been seeking ideas and projects from local groups, or individuals.

“I am so excited, after all this hard work, the communities, by a voting process, are about to choose the first projects to be supported – for me this is democracy at its best.

“I know, having met people within each community, this is the beginning of an exciting long-term community-based approach to tackling local issues.

“I urge people living within the communities to become involved and make the difference you want to see, and to businesses in the community, this is your chance to support local people with funding and/or support in kind.”

People now have until 5pm on Friday, April 1 to put forward their ideas on how to spend the cash.

Then, an event will be from 11am until 1pm at the Curlew Centre on April 23, where people can discuss and vote on the suggestions.

The need for community clubs and services for young people had been flagged as priorities for Sutton Bridge at the World Cafe event - with residents saying they feel like the area’s ‘poor relation’.

To put a suggestion forward, visit tinyurl.com/y67k6p6m or email andrew@mutualgain.org for help.