Crawley charities to get council grants

CHARITIES will be given more than half a million pounds in council grants over the next 12 months.

Crawley Borough Council will hand £591,843 to various charities and voluntary groups in the 2010-11 financial year, which begins on April 1.

The money, awarded after applications from many groups, will support existing services and help create new ones.

Councillor Nigel Boxall, Crawley's cabinet member for community engagement, said: "Council grants help organisations offer better services, often to the most vulnerable members of society.

"These awards will help many important groups enhance the work they do for the residents of Crawley."

Groups receiving funds include homeless shelter Crawley Open House, which will get almost £70,000 split between its two locations, and Crawley Council for Voluntary Service (CCVS), which will receive £113,819.

CCVS chief officer Liz Lamport said: "The local voluntary and community sector is a major contributor to life in Crawley.

"We know from our surveys that each year volunteers contribute time valued at £14.5 million.

"We are grateful that Crawley Borough Council recognises the value of this work and is committed to supporting the sector in these difficult financial times.

"Thanks to the council's investment families will continue to receive much needed support, homeless people will have somewhere to go and several arts and cultural organisations will continue to be able to offer a great range of events."

The council has already earmarked £268,742 in grants for 2011-12.

Voluntary groups can apply for 2011-12 main grants until September or for small grants at any time. For more details visit www.crawley.gov.uk/grants