Fwd: Mendip Hills Fund Press Release – Wednesday 11/10/2023

Mendip Hills Fund opens for Community and Environmental Grants

Could a grant of up to £2000 help your local project? The Mendip Hills Fund is now open for applications.

Grants will be awarded to support community and voluntary group projects that want to:

• Help their local wildlife
• Get their community involved in a project
• Support social and economic initiatives like improving community facilities  
• Support for start-up of social enterprises, e.g. local food initiatives

Grants of up to £2000 are available for projects in the Mendip Hills AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and through East Mendip to Frome.

Jim Hardcastle, Mendip Hills AONB Manager said, ‘It’s more important than ever to help nature across the Mendip Hills but funds can also be awarded for projects that help people in the area as well. Last year the fund helped Burrington Parish Council renovate their parish room, cavers at their hut outside Priddy got money for changing rooms and East Harptree School were helped to take their children to The Community Farm. Many of the businesses that support the fund are having difficult times at the moment and we are really grateful that they have kept their donation schemes open. Recent contributions have been strong and we are able to open the fund in a good position.’

The fund is supported by ‘visitor-giving’ schemes such as local campsites, outdoor activity centres and event organisers making a donation. Potential applicants are reminded that the fund can also award grants for social projects not just environmental ones.

The fund was set up with the Mendip Hills AONB Partnership and Somerset Community Foundation. If you are running a project in the Mendip area and you are not sure if you fit the criteria for application to the Mendip Hills Fund, please visit Somerset Community Foundation web site or call Jim Hardcastle, Mendip Hills AONB Unit 01761 462338 or SCF Programmes Manager Kirsty Campbell on 01749 344949. You can apply online anytime between 1st October and 31st November https://www.somersetcf.org.uk/mendip