Milton Ward has been awarded 33,910 over 4 years to improve the quality of life for local residents

under the Community First Panel Neighbourhood Matched Funding Scheme. It was agreed the following would be the priorities for the Community First Funding in Milton:

Milton Ward Community First Priorities 1. Improve and clean up the local environment, pavements and park especially dog fouling 2. Improve community relations between different ethnic groups in Milton 3. More free and low cost things for families and young people to do

4. Reduce alcohol consumption in the streets

If you think your group can help address one or more of these priorities, then you may be eligible for some funding to help you deliver your project. Each project can receive between 250 and 2,500 per year. The Milton Ward Community First Panel can be contact by emailing miltonward.southend@gmail.co.uk

If you are interested in getting funding, please read the information below Community First aims to encourage people in Milton ward to: Support the social action projects they need, improving the quality of life for themselves and others in their neighbourhood . Participate in relevant local decision making, promoting a sense of ownership not only of problems but of local opportunities and resources. Start more neighbourhood groups and revitalise existing groups. Work with businesses, charities and public authorities, encouraging people to help others and themselves to improve the quality of life locally. Introduce a new approach to funding projects - leveraging time, money and other resources - helping neighbourhoods play a leading role in regenerating their area.

To receive Community First funding any group or organisation must: be a not-for-profit, third sector voluntary or community group be connected with and/or meeting the needs of the local community have a bank account with 2 signatories OR nominate an organisation which has a bank account with 2 signatories to hold funds on its behalf have a governing document that has as a minimum the name, aim/purpose, objects, a dissolution clause for the organisation, a list of Trustees/Committee members, and Trustees/Committee member signatures. New groups are not required to have this in place, but should agree to develop one. provide evidence of significant community participation in their application through the groups matched element to the project show that their project is in line with the priorities identified for the ward

Examples of what can be funded are: the purchase of equipment, like a computer, oven, furniture the costs of putting on a local event or workshop training for volunteers additional activities to expand an existing funded project activities that support community activity activities that meet an identified need in the local community funding to support an organisation to achieve a quality or other standard relevant to their activities.

Community First cannot fund the following: statutory organisations, such as Local Authorities, schools and the Police Force arms length public sector organisations that are controlled wholly or in part by, for example, a Local Authority, a Primary Care Trust or agencies of these any party political activity commercial ventures organisations working in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, or those that primarily benefit communities overseas in Europe or elsewhere. The grants must be used for activity within local communities in England. certain types of activities that support Asylum Seeker groups. This funding cannot be used for the provision of services to asylum seekers when those services are inconsistent with immigration laws or Home Office policy. For the purposes of this fund, an asylum seeker means a person who has brought an asylum or human rights claim in the UK which has not yet been determined by either the Secretary of State or, as applicable, any relevant appellate authorities. It also includes a person who is a dependant on such a claim. Further information can be found at: http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk

Match Funding Groups funded by the CF programme will need to demonstrate match funding. The matched element should principally be in volunteer time but can also be donated cash, goods and services. As grants awarded will be small and volunteering opportunities in some cases may be limited, many groups will nonetheless, be dependent on volunteers to help deliver projects. We are recommending groups use an hourly rate of 11.09 to calculate the value of volunteer match time.