Harlow Council is launching new partnership grants focussed on supporting organisations to improve residents’ lives and create new opportunities.
The new grants will come into effect during the new financial year (from 1 April) with applications opening this week.
As part of its budget, the council has allocated £50,000 a year to the scheme and changed the grants criteria to deliver activities which support its missions. The grants, which will be for 3 years, will support activities that:
- Address the issues (affordability of food, debt and other financial worries) compounded by the increased cost of living
- Reduce loneliness and social isolation
- Increase volunteering opportunities
- Support physical and mental health and wellbeing initiatives and promote suicide prevention work
- Women’s safety and perpetrators’ behaviour change
- Positive opportunities for young people – specifically aimed at engaging disaffected young people; those on periphery (not in education or employment)
Councillor Danielle Brown, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Community and Wellbeing, said:
“We have overhauled our partnership grants so that we can support local organisations to deliver activities which will improve people’s lives and create new opportunities whilst tackling some serious issues.
"It has been sometime since partnership grants have been reviewed in such a way, but we are confident that the new scheme will truly improve people’s lives for the better.”
The fund of £50,000 is in addition to other grants the council gives to organisations which include the Rainbow Services Community Hub, Harlow Art Trust and funding provided to the Health & Wellbeing board to support projects.
Read more about the grants and apply. Applications close on Sunday 6 April 2025.