East Devon District Council is urging rural local communities who are planning capital building projects or refurbishments to apply for financial help from its successful Community Buildings Fund.

The Community Building Fund is an East Devon District Council grants scheme which helps fund projects for village halls, community buildings and community shops by offering grants of anything up to £5,000. Village halls, community buildings and community shops in East Devon’s villages and rural areas are eligible (those within an area covered by a town council are not eligible).

The scheme’s purpose is to help rural community buildings and community shops all around East Devon with funding for projects such as new or improved toilet facilities, kitchen facilities, roof repairs, heating and new door fixtures.

Closing dates for applications are 9am Monday 23 November 2020 and Monday 15 March 2021 at 9am (please bear in mind that there is only limited funding available so if all is granted in November there will be no funding available in April).

Examples of some previously funded projects:
1. £5,000 to Monkton Village Hall to help pay for a new kitchen and toilets amongst other works.
2. £1,875 to Uplyme Village Hall to help pay for kitchen improvements.
3. £1,500 to Yarcombe Village Hall to help them renew their fire escape access.

Cllr Jack Rowland, Chair of East Devon District Council’s Community Grants Panel said: “The Community Buildings Fund is a tremendous opportunity to apply for a grant up to £5,000 to improve facilities for buildings that meet the criteria and want to encourage relevant applications to take advantage of the fund.”

Interested applicants can find all the information they need, including application forms, on the East Devon website.