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The Community Champions Fund (CCF) is part of a £3 million Department of Education and Skills (DfES) initiative, supported by the Home Office Active Community Unit and managed by Government offices in the regions in partnership with community and voluntary organisations.

The Community Council of Shropshire administers the CCF in Shropshire and can provide support and advice on developing project ideas and completing the application form.

The fund aims to encourage individuals to become more involved in their communities and to support regeneration and learning activities. The funds are used to help Champions develop their knowledge, skills and experience, and to turn great ideas into actions. For example:

• Developing skills through formal or informal training/learning and helping with costs such as attending a training course, or peer mentoring.
• Help towards overcoming barriers to accessing training/learning, such as travel costs, childcare or carer provision.
• Developing an idea by visiting similar projects in other areas or learning about best practice.
• Setting up small-scale community-based projects or community networks, such as the development of a local support group or a community forum.

There is no minimum grant size and no requirement to match the funding. The average grant is around £800 to £1200 up to a maximum of £2000.

The CCF cannot support:

• General running costs of a project or group.
• Salaries (unless a new post has been created that clearly adds value to the project)
• Continuing work previously funded by another organisation.
• Large-scale projects where CCF represents only a small part of the total project cost, or where there are other, more appropriate, sources of funding.
• Large capital purchases
• Activities of a political or religious nature
• Profit-related business start-up costs.
• Work or activities that an organisation has a statutory duty to undertake.
• Retrospective activity.

Applications should be made by the individual who is looking for Community Champions Funding. Individuals do not have to be associated with a community group or organisation to apply for CCF. Alternatively, a group or organisation can apply for CCF on behalf of an individual.

To discuss your ideas, call Claire Carter at CCS on 01743 237873 or ring Jayne Travers at CCS on 01743 360641 for an application pack.

Alternatively, you can download a copy of the application form below: