Social housing provider Salix Homes is once again inviting applications for its ‘Your Salix, Your Say’ grant which gives local groups and organisations the chance to bid for between £250 and £4,000 to help finance worthwhile projects that will help improve communities.
Since it began five years ago, the initiative has channelled £157,000 into the local community and supported 75 local projects.
Last year’s winners include Duchy Residents Group, which secured £4,000 to help fund Salford’s first community gym and Grow in Broughton gardeners who were awarded £3,125 to continue their community growing project.
Last month (March) 8,500 homes across central Salford transferred from council ownership to Salix Homes releasing £75 million investment in homes and communities over the next five years.
Sue Sutton, head of customer and neighbourhood services at Salix Homes, said: “Thanks to our tenants voting to transfer ownership of their homes from the council to ourselves, we can continue to invest in our communities through initiatives like ‘Your Salix, Your Say, and crucially, let our customers decide where money should be spent.
“This grant has provided a lifeline for many groups and individuals over the years and we recognise that in the current economic climate and the continuing budget cuts, additional funding streams are more sought after than ever.
“I’d urge any community groups, local clubs or self-help organisations who are struggling for funding to apply for a ‘Your Salix, Your Say’ grant. We want to help them continue the excellent work they do to strengthen the sense of community in Salford and make it a more desirable place to live for everyone.”
This year £3,000 has been allocated specifically for young people aged between 11 and 24 who are invited to submit bids of up to £500 to help fund projects or initiatives aimed at the younger generation.
The deadline for applications is Friday, May 15 and the shortlist will be announced in June. Decision Day, when each of the finalists will showcase their project before taking to the polls to vote which initiative they believe should get the money, takes place at St Sebastian’s Community Centre, Lower Kersal on Saturday, June 27.
For more information or an application pack call Jackie Crook on 0161 779 8966, or email hello@salixhomes.org
Photo: David Oldroyd with Braidon Winter from Grow in Broughton
