As we enter 2012, many local communities will be turning their thoughts to how they can celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Harrogate Borough Council is offering five grants of up to £1,000 each for projects run by voluntary and community groups in the Harrogate district to mark this milestone in the Queen’s reign.
Councillor Don Mackenzie, Leader of the Council, says that to make sure the grants are spread across the district, it is hoped that one grant award will be made in each of the following areas: Boroughbridge, Harrogate, Knaresborough, Nidderdale and Ripon.
Councillor Mackenzie said:
The Queen’s Christmas message for 2011 focused on family, friends and community spirit. We are keen that projects seeking a grant from this small Diamond Jubilee fund will be able to demonstrate community participation and be linked to volunteering in some way. This is the first Royal Diamond Jubilee since Queen Victoria’s in 1897 and, as well as offering this funding, the council will be marking it in other ways including joining in with the lighting of 2012 beacons over the jubilee weekend.
We have made this fund available as part of our Community Chest funding stream which recently made awards of £30,000 to *23 community and voluntary groups in the Harrogate district.
The Harrogate Borough Council Diamond Jubilee Grant is now open for nominations until noon on 24 February 2012. The projects must be one off, have no-on-going running costs, must start after April 2012 and be completed by the end of September 2012.
To be considered for an award, organisations must show that their project will benefit a large section of the community, links with volunteering and have clear outcomes.
Project proposal forms and guidance notes are available from www.harrogate.gov.uk/voluntary
