09 May City Celebration Fund
A new £25,000 city celebration fund has been launched, to help local residents and groups celebrate our new City status and support community ownership.
The fund will be managed and delivered by the Community Investment Board and has been made possible thanks to £20,000 from Southend-on-Sea City Council and £5,000 from Olympus. The Board is made up of local residents who volunteer to help decide where community investment goes and ensure that any grants enable Southend residents to improve their lives.
Whether you have already planned your event and need some extra funds, or it is not yet in the making, you can apply for up to £2,000 of funding for events taking place from June onwards.
The board are keen to hear from those based in Southend who are planning events that are being held before 31 March 2023 and that:
- Will celebrate Southend’s heritage, culture, and/or diversity and our new City status
- Are accessible and open to all
- Taking place at a venue in Southend-on-Sea
For events in June 2022, please submit your application by 5pm Friday 20 May – events beyond this can apply when ready but are advised to give the board 6 weeks to process their application.
Jenny Wood, Community Investment Board Member said: “The whole Board are excited to be part of celebrating our new city status and enabling community events that will bring us all together whilst enjoying our rich heritage, culture and diversity. We have kept the application process simple and encourage everyone with an idea to get in touch. We are grateful to Southend-on-Sea City Council and Olympus who have provided the funding to support celebration of Southend’s new City status.”
The fund is open to any not-for-profit group looking to hold an upcoming event. You might be a group of individuals, faith group, registered charity, CIC, small constituted group or something else – whatever you are, if you have an event in mind the Board are keen to hear from you.
To access the fund guidance and short application form, please visit https://savs-southend.org/cib/ If you have questions or want to talk through an idea you have get in touch with the Community Investment Fund Coordinator using cib@savs-southend.co.uk, call 07415 846506.
