The Bracknell Forest Recovery Grant is now available to provide funds to local charities to help the community recover from the impact of COVID-19.

Many community and voluntary organisations have been negatively affected by the pandemic, particularly financially, as fundraising opportunities have been more limited. The aim of the fund is to award grants to community and faith groups, charitable organisations, and social enterprises, which can demonstrate the difference they make to the lives of residents in the borough.

There are four priority areas for which funding is available:

• Health and wellbeing – advance people’s physical/mental health, wellbeing and safety.
• Education and skills – improve life skills, education, employability and enterprise.
• Disadvantage and exclusion – promote the reduction of isolation and disadvantage and increase access to local services.
• Stronger communities – strengthen community cohesion and build social capacity.

Funding is available in three tiers:

• Tier 1 – up to £500
• Tier 2 – up to £5,000
• Tier 3 – up to £20,000

Cllr Dale Birch, Executive Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing, said:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on our communities. This fund will provide a lifeline for local charities which give so much to our communities and positively impact the lives of so many, and help them to recover from the negative effects the pandemic has caused.

“We are lucky to have a number of registered charities, faith groups, and voluntary and community groups in Bracknell Forest which benefit the wider community with their work. I would encourage all eligible groups to find out more and apply for a recovery grant.”

The grant is part of a wider COVID-19 recovery plan for the borough and is supported by £210,000 of funding provided by Bracknell Forest Council.

Grant applications will be administered by Involve Community Services on behalf of the council. All applications will be assessed by a grant panel against the eligibility criteria.

To find out more about the Bracknell Forest Recovery Grant, eligibility and the application process, please visit: Bracknell Forest Recovery Grant - Involve Community Services.