In this years finance budget,Labour controlled Bridgwater Town Council ring-fenced £7,000 for youth spending. Cllr Diogo Rodrigues (Labour,Dunwear North), as lead member for youth, started a consultation with youth organisations, youth leaders and young people to get a better understanding of the youth provision in the town. At tonight’s Town Council meeting the BTC Youth Grant scheme was launched and criteria agreed.
Cllr Rodrigues, who is also the Youth & Student officer for the Bridgwater and West Somerset CLP, introduced the budget proposals saying “The council set up a Youth Working Party tasked with detailing how the £7,000 youth budget would best be spent. We are now proud to put forward a youth grant system for this financial year, with the application process open immediately and a maximum of £500 available for each successful organisation. Applicants will have to meet criteria as set out in the application and will also be required to report back on the success of the project which funds have been used for.
We are very proud that this council has been able to step in and offer some financial support to vital youth provision services in the Town which have faced difficult funding cuts from local and national government over a number of years and as a result unprecedented financial uncertainty.
We welcome all organisations that provide any form of youth provision in Bridgwater to apply via the Town Council office, that’s townclerk@bridgwatertowncouncil.gov.uk “
Targeted Youth Grants
Town Council Leader, Cllr Brian Smedley (Labour, Westover) said “Youth funding isn’t something we have to do as a Town Council but its something we want to do to highlight what’s available and to encourage people to focus on youth provision. What we’ve got and what we need. The criteria we’ve agreed includes focusing on 11-18 age range, funding being used for pretty much any aspect of provision, one-off projects, general running, staff, equipment, programme, residentials and so on but we insist that the applications must be developed with the involvement of the young people who will benefit from the award. So if you’re involved in youth projects, if you have an idea or want to set something up then this years set of targeted youth grants is something we want you to apply for. As a result of this we want to build up a map of youth provision and then see what gaps there are that need filling and seek ways to help.”
How to Get on the Youth Map
Organisations and youth events will also be promoted via the youngbridgwater.co.uk website set up by Cllr Rodrigues. Any organisations wanting their details to be published should contact Cllr Rodrigues via the webpage.
Grant applications are available from Alan Hurford at Town Office.