Groups and individuals funded in Smethwick Ward
Elected Members in Sandwell have access to four small funding streams for activities and events that help support the residents in their ward and town.
Events and projects across Sandwell are funded via many different budgets:
• CIL Funding – The Community Infrastructure Levy is a charge applied by the council on new building developments in the area. In Sandwell, 15% of these funds can be spent in the local community. Community Infrastructure Levy Grants of up to £5,000 are available to community groups to enhance their work.
Find out more about Community Infrastructure Levy funding.
All applications for grants funded by Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) require a public consultation. View and comment on the current consultations.
• Ward Member Budgets – Each ward member (local elected councillor) has their own budget which they allocate on projects or events within their ward to help support their ward priorities.
Each ward member has an annual budget of £2,000.
For more information, find your local councillor and contact them directly.
• Neighbourhoods Support Budget – The Neighbourhoods Support Budget is available to Elected Members within the town to solve issues they identify which are affecting our residents. Where an issue cannot be solved with the other available funds, the Neighbourhoods Support Budget ensures that we are pro-active in supporting our residents. Each Town has an annual budget of £10,000.
• Events - Across each Town there is a small Events budget which is allocated by Elected Members to fund events that bring communities together. Each town has an annual budget of £5,000.
Find more information about running an event in Sandwell.
Dorothy Parkes - Grief, Bereavement, & Loss Support Programme
The group were awarded CIL funding of £3,259.93
The Dorothy Parkes Centre is a community organisation based in Smethwick and provides a wide range of activities for the local community.
The Dorothy Parkes Centre applied for CIL funding which helped purchase new furniture and a projector screen for their Grief, Bereavement and Loss Support Programme.
The project was to create a safe space where people can get things off their chest. The purpose of the sessions was to help individuals through their loss.
The CIL funding was used to purchase meeting room chairs and a projector screen to support the delivery of the project.
Smethwick Youth and Community Centre-Smethwick Gardening Club
The group were awarded CIL funding of £3,494.65
Smethwick Youth and Community Centre is a well-established registered charity that offers a passionate and professional service to the local community, by putting on programmes such as job search, employment support, welfare advice etc.
The organisation has been successful in receiving CIL funding to purchase items such as a wooden bench, decking, flower bed planters and an evacuation chair. This has enabled them to transform their unused roof space into a gardening project with disabled access.
The aim was for service users to learn how to grow fruits and vegetables. In addition, they have used their produce in the healthy cooking sessions which take place every Thursday.
This will enable participants from the local community to develop skills and knowledge in food and cooking as well as gardening.
La Luz Life Coach and Wellbeing Services CIC - Self-defence
The group were awarded CIL funding of £1,226.30
La Luz Life Coach and Wellbeing Services is a Community Interest Company which formed in 2022. The aim is to help the community's mental health and identifying alternative ways to help support and prevent mental health problems.
The organisation trialled self-defence classes mixed with Thai box fit for women, as a six-week course, once a week on Friday 6pm-7pm at Sandwell Aquatic Centre.
La Luz Life Coach CIC found there was a demand to keep the sessions running at the Sandwell Aquatic Centre and also had community organisations requesting them to teach the self-defence classes/Thai box fit in community centres across Smethwick.
La Luz Life Coach and Wellbeing CIC have recently been successful in receiving CIL funding for mats, Thai boxing equipment, full body pads, first aid equipment and trolleys to move the matts around and storage box.
This has enabled them to hold self-defence/Thai boxing in community centres, as well as continuing to deliver activities at the Sandwell Aquatic Centre.