The Activation and Community Engagement (Activation) Fund, launched in November 2021, has already supported several projects, and the council are keen to encourage more activity to Grimsby town centre.
The funding, which is part of the Towns Fund programme, is ring-fenced to Grimsby Town Centre, and offers capital grants to business ventures and community-based organisations to reactivate empty properties for alternative uses and encourage activities that will help revitalise the town.
The aim of the scheme is to bring forward smaller projects which will enhance the major regeneration works that are currently taking place, including a repurposed Riverhead Square, major works at St James House to create a small business hub, an NHS Community Diagnostics Hub, the Horizon Youth Zone, and a new cinema and leisure development.
The fund can cover projects that fit with at least one of the following six town centre priorities identified in the Masterplan:
- Introduce more diverse uses to the town centre
- Reconnect the town centre and the community with the waterfront
- Promote and support community ownership and participation
- Identify development opportunities within the town centre, including low-carbon initiatives
- Prioritise health and wellbeing activity in the town centre
- Enhance employment, skills and entrepreneurial opportunities
Since its inception many businesses and organisations have benefitted from a range of grants. Anne Bickerstaffe of Christian Action Resource Enterprise (CARE) has been thrilled with the funding which helped to secure the group a building.
She said: “CARE is so grateful to the Activation & Community Engagement Fund for supporting our project, which has levered in other national funding to support the project, as many funders have asked us about local support. This newly renovated building will be a lasting legacy for Grimsby, creating and safeguarding jobs, as well as building pride in the community. It will ensure our charity’s sustainability, meaning we can serve the residents of Grimsby for many decades to come”.
Others have used the funding to provide a base of operations, such as Monica Chatterton from Our Big Picture. In 2022, Our Big Picture was awarded funding, which then enabled them to secure an additional £175,000 match funding (Capital & Revenue) from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) to purchase a Listed Heritage building (circa 1700) in the centre of Grimsby.
She said: “This blended funding supported the establishment of North East Lincolnshire’s first Arts & Heritage Community Hub. The NLHF funding supported 2 years running costs which included four staff members. The Activation Fund was key to the continued development of Grimsby’s Arts & Cultural creative community.”
For more information and to apply for the fund, visit https://www.nelincs.gov.uk/business-and-investment/support-for-businesses/
Article and image from NELC.
About the author