What it was

The supporting communities fund was a £1million grant fund which was set up to support local community groups and organisations in the district. The final round of SCF funding was awarded in July 2024, the SCF is now closed.

Criteria

Applications must be able to demonstrate how they will support at least one of the 3 aims below:

  • supporting positive mental health in residents, in particular, young people
  • reducing social isolation in residents, in particular, older people
  • supporting our communities to thrive, building resilient community groups and organisations

Projects awarded funding

In 2024 22 new projects received a total of £350,000 of funding. You can see the recipients listed here. Projects which have been awarded funding over the previous five years can be seen below

Projects funded in 2024

  • Petersfield Men’s Shed, £2,053 - To buy more equipment and expand the activities the shed can offer 
  • Grayshott Parish Council, £4,000 -  Towards a recreation area for young teenagers, including football goals, basketball hoops and a skate ramp 
  • Hampshire Cultural Trust, £20,000 – To fund a Community Engagement Officer to help deliver a programme of art & cultural activities in Alton 
  • Herne Association of Families and Staff, £2,010 - To help provide a ‘forest school’ area within the grounds of Herne Junior School 
  • Friends of Steep School (FOSS), £12,000 - To refresh and revive the early years outdoor play space at Steep Primary School 
  • Clanfield Football Club, £20,000 – To upgrade the club’s pavilion 
  • Bentley Archers, £14,475 – To bring the recreation ground up to a standard that can accommodate football and cricket. 
  • Grayshott Concerts, £15,000 - Music Outreach Programme for disadvantaged children and adults in north east Hampshire 
  • Petersfield Town Football Club, £20,000 – To provide a clubhouse with changing facilities 
  • Embracing Age, £30,000 - To fund Care Home Friends - trained and vetted volunteers to befriend care home residents and make regular visits. 
  • Choices For Youth, £14,840 – To go towards the running costs of the Choices For Youth youth group in Rowlands Castle for children in primaryand secondary school  
  • Worldham Parish Council, £10,500 - Urgent restoration of the floor in the only village hall serving the Worldhams and Hartley Mauditt 
  • Treloar Trust, £7,272 – Building an interactive learning zone for disabled students 
  • The Peertalk Charitable Foundation, £30,000 – To support PeerTalk East Hampshire – which supports adults living with depression, anxiety and similar emotional distress 
  • Alton Stroke Support Group, £14,850 - Building a resilient and sustainable stroke community for Alton and surrounding areas 
  • Andrews’ Endowed CE Primary School, £5,000 – To improve its special educational needs provision  
  • Autism Hampshire, £28,635 - Serendipity Community Group and Wellbeing Workshops for autistic adults in Bordon 
  • Friends of Greatham School, £14,378.04 - To build an all-weather sports pitch at Greatham Primary School 
  • Miniland Therapeutic, £25,000 – To build two new classrooms and a storeroom on the farm 
  • St John Trust, £23,400 - To support a St John Trust Project Coordinator for three years 
  • Whitehill & Bordon Community Trust, £30,000 - Community Projects & Programme Officer 
  • Y+ Youth Services CIC, £12,400 - Towards the refurbishment of their next youth hub

Previous years' funding

Supporting Communities Fund newsletter

Take a look at some of the fantastic community projects benefitting from SCF grants.