Groups and individuals funded in St Paul's 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 £2,500.
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.
Deaf World- England Cricket Association for the Deaf
The group were awarded CIL funding of £2,250.34
Deaf Word is a registered charity (1127458) since January 2009.
Deaf World Smethwick have received CIL funding which has enabled them to set up an England Cricket Association for the deaf (ECAD) as there were currently no teams in the West Midlands.
This project was developed through suggestions and a consultation with young people and has been led by young people in association with Deaf World HIYP, ECAD and England Cricket Board ECB.
Deaf World Smethwick purchased cricket equipment (such as pads, gloves, bats, helmets) to support this new Association. The equipment has allowed the young people to practice and play matches in regional cricket leagues such as the T20 Tournament between North, Midlands & South.
This project has made a significant difference in young people lives as has enabled them to:
• Gain confidence and enhance general well being
• Engage in a physical activity regularly
• Enhance social and communication skills
• Have a sense of belonging and be part of a team
• Learn how to manage a sporting club and take responsibility
• Enable to explore options for coaching
North Smethwick Development Trust- Your Local Pantry - Brasshouse
The group were awarded CIL funding of £2,577.62
NSDT is a community development organisation that work out of the Brasshouse Community Centre in North Smethwick. The centre acts as a focal point working with the local community to identify need and provide services and activities that support the local community.
CIL funding was used to set up a Your Local Pantry. This is a community-led shop where members payed £4.00 a week and receive at least 10 items (at least £15 worth of shopping). Including fresh fruit and vegetables, ambient, chilled and frozen products as well as toiletries.
The pantry has been running mainly by volunteers, offering people opportunities to gain valuable work experience and build confidence. The funding that has been used for this project was to purchase for a fridge, freezer and shelving to ensure that food could be stored safely and securely for the project
NDST have worked with SMBC Public Health to review working practices and social distancing requirements in the delivery of the project in view of COVID-19.
Singh Sabha FC
The group were awarded CIL funding of £1,568.13.
Singh Sabha FC was established in 2001 and currently has several active football teams ranging from an under 7’s team to an adult team.
The Club based in Smethwick welcomes all people from a diverse community and provides opportunities for young people to access football sessions free of charge and adults to access football for a minimal charge.
The CIL funding approved for Singh Sabha will enable the Club to purchase new football equipment and will allow the football sessions to re-start when COVID-19 Government guidelines allow.
St Johns Community Centre - Improvement to the St Johns Community Hall
The group were awarded CIL funding of £1,237.03
St Johns Community Centre is a small community centre based in Smethwick where various groups use the facilities to attend different activities such as ‘Knit and Knatter’, Scout groups etc. The organisation also hires out the hall for parties, Christenings, weddings etc.
St Johns Community Centre have been successful in receiving CIL funding for 2 new double doors at the front and rear which are the main access points to the hall.
The current doors are old and fragile and due to this the organisation has suffered with attempted break-ins.
The new doors form part of a refurbishment plan for the hall, as the group has decorated inside.
With the replacement of the 2 new double doors and makeover, the aim is to make the building more secure and to attract new community groups/members to join in the activities.
Community Connect Foundation- Youth Engagement Project
The group were awarded CIL funding of £2,637.98.
Community Connect Foundation is a well-established registered charity that formed in 1988. The purpose is to serve the local community tackling social and economic poverty and provide a safe space for the local people to be able to engage, interact and complete activities in a safe environment.
The organisation runs 3 young people provision programmes that are running weekly from Mondays-Friday 4pm-9pm, they have around 50 young boys and girls who attend and take part in activities, all free of charge.
The organisation has been successful in receiving CIL funding of £2,637.98 which has enabled them to purchase a 4-in-1 games table inc. pool and table tennis, 4 cues, a TV and a PlayStation 5.
This equipment has enabled the young people to get involved with a range of activities including various games and helped the young people stay interested at the centre whilst engaging with the youth workers.
This equipment has helped attract more young people to become a part of the youth club and now increased their social activities in a safe environment.
North Smethwick Development Trust- Purchase of Activity Tables for Community Usage
The group were awarded CIL funding of £4,128.00.
North Smethwick Development Trust is a well-established charity running from the Brasshouse Community Centre. They work to achieve the social, economic and environmental regeneration in Smethwick.
The organisation is open Monday-Sunday and have a varied timetable of activities to support people living locally such as being a welcoming space, cost of living and life management counselling, gardening for wellbeing, craft groups and much more. They support nearly 6,000 people each year.
North Smethwick Development Trust identified that they had outdated and deteriorating tables which were not able to be repaired and there was a room at the centre that was underutilised. The organisation designed their project to furnish this room to provide additional space for activities.
The organisation has been successful in receiving CIL funding for 20 lightweight folding tables and 20 sets of protective foot covers.
This has enabled the organisation to be able to further enhance their programme of activities.
Smethwick Sparks Basketball Club
The group were awarded CIL funding of £2,743.56.
Smethwick Sparks Basketball Club first formed in April 2025, with the purpose of providing basketball to positively impact the community and behaviour in the school and now want to provide for the wider community at a competitive and social level.
The organisation runs training sessions 5 days a week and a community day where anyone can take part in a basketball session. There are 4 competitive teams within the club with the club having 84 members.
The organisation are currently running training sessions to prepare for the upcoming basketball games.
The organisation have been successful in applying to CIL funding to purchase basketball equipment. This will enable the group to use professional equipment that would be required to play in league games.
This has enabled the organisation to be able to further enhance their programme of activities.
Hearts in the Stand
The group were awarded CIL funding of £4,603.45.
Hearts in the Stand CIC were established in October 2025. The idea for the group grew from personal and professional experience. The impetus for acting at this time was the death of a fan after a heart attack in the West Bromwich Albion stands; if those around had received the CPR training, the outcome may have been different.
The organisation has identified the need for new equipment for their CPR training workshops. The new equipment would help to deliver workshops and awareness raising sessions which would empower as many people as possible to perform effective CPR in an emergency.
The group have been successful in receiving CIL funding to purchase equipment including gold first aid training kits, bleed control trauma kits and airway models.
This has enabled the organisation to be able to further enhance their programme of activities.
New Testament Church of God
The group were awarded CIL funding of £4,603.45.
The New Testament Church of God has existed for 40 years and operates in Oldbury. The group offer different services to support the local community such as a food bank, youth services, men’s group and young kids club. These sessions are for different ages
The organisation identified the need to encourage people to be educated on healthier eating and produce through obtaining a allotment plot at the Basons Lane allotments in Smethwick. The aim of this is teaching young people and the local community about the health and benefits of eating healthier. The organisation has consulted the local community and identified that the allotments would be beneficial to the community.
The New Testament Church Of God applied for CIL funding and purchased a variety of gardening equipment including gardening tools, water hose, wheelbarrow, compost bin, water butt, shed and greenhouse.
The community allotments are open to the local community and allow groups from the church to use the allotment. The produce that is grown within the allotment is also used in the food banks.
Steppingstones in the Community
The group were awarded CIL funding of £3,699.99.
Steppingstones were established during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been registered as a CIC and running for the last 2 years. The purpose of our organisation is to support the local community with their physical and mental health by getting them active and talking to help the community.
The organisation has identified the need for new equipment for their youth club and drop-in sessions. The new equipment will help create a balanced programme where digital access, physical activity, and social connection come together.
The group have been successful in receiving CIL funding to purchase equipment to help draw people into the centre, sustain their engagement, and provide them with consistent opportunities to deliver health and wellbeing interventions.