Funding For Groups Wanting to Clean up Their Town

Posted on: 18th April 2019

Funding for groups wanting to clean up their Town has just been allocated by Government, to Cornwall Council with a short time for us to allocate it to groups in our communities.

Cornish communities are being offered up to £2,000 to help spring clean their high streets and smarten up their town and village centres.

Cornwall Council and partners were recently given a last-minute litter-cleaning boost after a £98,400 Government cash injection.

The one-off funding announced by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is now being made available to community groups and individuals for cleaning, decorating and improving town and village centres across Cornwall.

They have until May 6 to apply for grants and support worth up to £2,000 to help with projects and activities such as litter picking, graffiti cleaning and chewing gum removal or anything else that will enhance their local environment.

Ruth Gripper, project manager for Cornwall Council’s partner Clean Cornwall which is running the scheme, said: “We want people to tell us what needs doing in their local area.

“It’s up to communities to decide what they need to improve their local areas. It may be something as simple as a piece of equipment or something really imaginative to improve the look of a place. Our aim is to be flexible and to listen to communities about what they need. Then we can supply the money or resources to help them make it happen.”

Councillor Sue James, Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for the environment and public protection, said: “We take great pride in our beautiful towns and villages across Cornwall, and this scheme gives local residents the opportunity to help make them even better.”

“Clean Cornwall does a great job working with community groups and others to address the issues of litter across the Duchy. These grants are an innovative way of providing extra support for the local community in those efforts.”

Many Cornish towns already have voluntary or community groups looking after their local environment. While this scheme is open to existing groups, parish and town councils, Clean Cornwall is especially keen to hear from individuals who might use this opportunity to create a new group to keep the work going in the future. Their grant could be used for tools and equipment, training, signage, promotional material or to support community events that will encourage others to look after their local area.

Full details and an application form can be found on the Clean Cornwall website and applicants will be asked to provide photographs of the areas they hope to improve, with details of how they plan to spend the money and who will do the work.

It is hoped that at least 40 Cornish communities will be awarded grants. The closing date for applications is May 6 with grants allocated to successful projects shortly afterwards.