The Grants Panel met to discuss and approve applications for the Community Chest Grant Aid Awards 2025/26. Councillors Lara Davenport-Ray, Executive Councillor for Climate, Transformation and Workforce, and Sally Ann Howell, Executive Councillor for Communities, Health and Leisure, approved the recommendations for grant awards. No declarations of interest were received from members.

Community Chest Grant Aid Awards 2025/26

Councillors Lara Davenport-Ray and Sally Ann Howell approved the recommendations for the Community Chest Grant Aid Awards 2025/26, allocating funds to local organisations that support the council's corporate plan priorities.

The Community Chest Grant Scheme aims to assist small groups and projects that benefit the local community. Since 2023/24, the scheme has been extended to include applications from groups supporting the District Council in achieving its Corporate Plan for 2023-28, which includes:

• Improving the quality of life and well-being for everyone
• Keeping people out of crisis
• Helping people in crisis
• Lowering carbon emissions

The total budget available for 2025/26 was £53,056.27, which included £30,000 set aside in the council budget and carry-forward funds from previous years. As of the meeting date, £23,221.00 had already been committed to applicants, leaving £29,835.27 available.

The panel considered applications received since the last meeting, assessing them against the funding criteria. The maximum grant amounts available were:

• £1,000 for Community Spaces
• £1,500 for community events
• £3,000 for longer-term projects

The following applications were approved:

• Grafham Water Sailability was awarded £3,000 for a concrete slipway extension. Grafham Water Sailability is a sailing club for adults with disabilities. The funding will extend the launching slipway to allow sailing to continue when the water level drops in Grafham Water.
• Wistow Parish Council was awarded £200 for an annual maintenance day. The funding supports a community event where people can socialise and help tidy up Wistow to make it a better place to live.

Other applications that were considered included:

• Huntingdonshire Parkinson's Group Therapy Classes, requesting £1,000 to provide therapy classes delivered by qualified instructors to help alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
• Horizons Education Trust Outdoor Spaces, requesting £3,000 to create a playground that fosters physical development and holistic growth, tailored to every child's needs.

Members' Interests

Councillors Lara Davenport-Ray and Sally Ann Howell confirmed that no interests were declared relating to the agenda items.