Liverpool sets up £1m community improvement fund

Liverpool City Council has set up a new £1m fund to help residents lead change within their local communities.

The Mayoral Inclusive Growth Fund will aim to empower residents and groups by encouraging grass-roots initiatives to apply for cash-aid.

The council says the £1m ‘community chest’ will help individual communities tackle specific issues they face.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: ‘Our communities face many challenges and we believe that the people best placed to meet them are those who live in our communities. They know best what will make the difference and we want them to come forward and take control.’

‘The council works in partnership with many groups and organisations and this new fund will be a way of extending that network and enable residents to take an active role in shaping the future of our city.

The £1m pot is made up of four separate funding streams, including a £550,000 Communities Grant devoted to projects that address deprivation, support children and older people and contribute to the local economy.

£150,000 will be used to encourage crowdfunding for projects looking to transform civic spaces, while £200,000 will go towards implementing the city’s sustainable food strategy.

This sustainable food strategy will involve setting up several foodbanks and community pantries across Liverpool which will help people and families facing food poverty.

Local councillors will now be tasked with identifying community groups and projects eligible for the Communities Grant after the council’s cabinet approved the fund.

Chris Brown of the Liverpool-based Gourmet Social Enterprise said: ‘It is truly amazing what a little bit of money and an enormous amount of goodwill can achieve.

‘It is great news that the city council is now planning to extend this thinking to other areas and give local people a leading role in driving change and tacking the real quality of life issues that affect us all.’

Photo Credit – Liverpool City Council