The £30 million Community First grants fund will provide small grants to community groups in the 600 most deprived wards in England (including 18 Manchester wards)

More details:

http://www.cdf.org.uk/web/guest/neighbourhood-matched-fund 

The Whalley Range ward has been allocated £33,910 over a 4 year period to support local projects that improve the quality of life for local people. 

To apply for the funding a Volunteer Panel must be established in each ward made up of people living/working in them: each panel will be able to access funds and distribute grants in its local area.

The criteria for panel members is

· The community panel will consist of a minimum of 4 people and a maximum of 8 people

· All members of the panel will be local people who live in the ward or members of an existing community group that is based in the ward

· All members of the panel will be 18 years and over

· All members of the panel will not have convictions for fraud or have been declared bankrupt

· Panel membership should include representatives of the public and voluntary sector, as well as councillors or local businesses.

Community groups interested in receiving funds will have to apply to their local panels.

There are a number of organisations across Manchester who are currently setting up the voluntary panels and a meeting was held last night to propose members of the Whalley Range Panel. It is important that the panel is representative of the area and it is important to establish and set up our Whalley Range panel as soon as possible. Organisations outside the ward have shown an interest in managing the funding for Whalley Range - but we believe the allocation of the funds to community groups should be decided by people and groups living and working in the ward who represent the needs of our residents.

The people who volunteered to become Panel members at an initial meeting are as follows:

Bill Williams: Chair of Whalley Range Forum, Trustee Whalley Range Youth Opportunities Association, Chair of Victoria Road Residents Association

Yasmine Dar: Chair of Community on Solid Ground, Member of Independent Advisory Group of GMP, Mental Health Coordinator

Drew Walsh: Treasurer of Whalley Range Forum, Friends of Alexandra Park member

Muhammad Ayub: Whalley Range Ward Coordinator

Yousef Hageg: Trustee of Youth on Solid Ground, volunteer at Manchester Active Voices, studying business/recruitment, HR Director at Students for Free Enterprise, business mentor at Mosaic

Chris Ricard: Whalley Range Forum Worker, Celebrate Coordinator, Friends of Manley Park

Carol Packham: Treasurer of Whalley Range Youth Opportunities Association, Vice-Chair Whalley Range Forum, Chair of Whalley Range Action for sustainable Living

Bilal Nazir: Youth on Solid Ground Young Persons Representative, Sports Coach, Lifeguard, Mentor

Mary Watson: Local Councillor

The selection of the Panel members has not been finalised and if anyone wishes to get involved please get in touch.

We will hold a second meeting to confirm the members and register the panel with Community First: members of the community are invited to attend this meeting.

We must stress the importance of moving quickly on this to ensure a Whalley Range panel is registered and in a position to distribute the funding to improve our community

Whalley Range Community First Panel Meeting:

Thursday 24^th November at 6:30pm at the Welsh Chapel, 116b Egerton Rd North, Whalley Range, M16 0BZ (at the back of JNR8 Youth & Community Centre/side of Manley Park Methodist Church)