Gloucestershire County Council has announced the first grant from its new £1.1 million Grassroots Neighbourhood Fund, with £3,000 awarded to Brockworth Link Youth Club.
The funding will support the salary of the club’s Youth Manager, a key role in delivering free sessions for young people in Brockworth, one of the county’s most deprived areas.
The Grassroots Neighbourhood Fund gives each of Gloucestershire’s 55 county councillors up to £20,000 to invest in projects that improve health, wellbeing and community resilience in their local divisions. Grants of between £250 and £5,000 are available to support initiatives that tackle inequality and respond to local needs.
The £3,000 grant was allocated by Councillor Ben Evans, who represents Brockworth. He said the youth club played a vital role in the community.
“I’m delighted to nominate Brockworth Link Youth Club for this funding,” he said. “The team works tirelessly to support young people in our community, many of whom rely on the club as a safe place to learn, socialise and grow in confidence. This grant helps secure the leadership needed to keep these vital sessions running.”
Based at Brockworth Community Library, the youth club provides free sessions for young people, many of whom are eligible for free school meals or experience financial hardship. The club offers healthy food and snacks, arts and crafts activities, life skills workshops, digital homework support and opportunities for social connection.
It also provides emotional wellbeing support, safeguarding, and signposting to local services and online resources.
Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities and Fire, said the award reflected the purpose of the new fund.
“It’s fantastic to see the very first award from the Grassroots Neighbourhood Fund going to a project that makes such a tangible and positive difference to young people’s lives,” he said. “By helping to secure the Youth Manager role, we are enabling continuity, trusted relationships and a wide range of enriching opportunities. This is exactly the kind of grassroots community support the fund was designed to strengthen.”
Applications to the Grassroots Neighbourhood Fund are now open, with community groups, charities and voluntary organisations encouraged to apply. More information is available on the council’s website.