Grants and Funding

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.
 

Time Step Dance - Making Music with Time Step Dance

The group were awarded CIL funding of £918.09

Time Step Dance have received CIL funding to support their Making Music with Time Step Dance project. Time Step will be able to purchase various instruments allowing them to start up a small music group.

This new group will enable children to learn the basics of music (reading music, learning notes, and putting tunes together, timing and rhythm etc) and formation of a mini orchestra.

The Time Step Dance Group are aiming to attract around 20-30 young people initially to participate in the Project.

Awesome Performing Arts - Sandwell’s first Mobile Theatre

The group were awarded CIL funding of £1,789.00.

Awesome Performing Arts have received CIL funding to purchase equipment and materials to create a mobile theatre.

The stage and equipment purchased will be used to support productions and may be borrowed by other groups. The staging equipment would allow Awesome Performing Arts to put on at least 6 shows per year (2 for choir, 3 for junior awesome, one concert and 2 small performances/plays and 1 for the main drama group). Awesome Performing Arts plan to participate in outdoor shows at local events also.

Each show would have around 20-30 people participating and an audience of between 50 and 75 approximately. The equipment and staging will also enable Awesome Performing Arts to train some of their 11+ students on the technical aspects of setting up a theatre stage and help support the Group in working more widely in the local community. 

Sandwell Advocacy - Connecting Communities 

The group were awarded CIL funding of £2,738.58.

Sandwell Advocacy is a registered charity based in Tipton who have been providing independent advocacy throughout Sandwell since 1993. The group support vulnerable individuals who feel that their needs, rights and wishes have not been taken into account when planning and delivering health and social care services.

They have received CIL funding to improve the community space in their building to help them develop their befriending service. The funding has allowed them to purchase equipment for this space such as desks, tables, chairs, interactive screens, signage etc. 

This will allow the group to offer more support, training and enhance the projects they deliver, especially the recruitment of more volunteers who would utilise the additional area.

Golden Opportunities - New ICT equipment 

The Group were awarded CIL funding of £2,939.67.

Golden Opportunities is a Social Group for the residents of the Boscobel Estate in Tipton. The aim of the group is to help develop and encourage social and educational aspects for the estate members. They have organised quiz nights, bingo sessions, history talks, as well as holding social events.

They have received CIL funding to purchase IT equipment such as a laptop, tablets, digital camera, printer etc.

The members will be able to benefit through the training and support the group offer, as well as being able to borrow some of the equipment to develop their skills further.

St Matthews Church - Mini Matts 

The group were awarded CIL funding of £2,354.93.

St Matthews Church is a voluntary led organisation, based in Tipton. There are lots of different activities and events provided for the community to attend throughout the week.

The organisation has been successful in receiving CIL funding to help towards starting up a new Stay & Play Group called Mini Matts. This has an educational and support theme, for 0-4-year olds and takes place each Monday and Friday. 

The CIL funding helped the organisation with resources such as chairs, classroom tables, a baby playpen, play centre, soft play shapes equipment for climbing etc.

The new equipment will enable them to deliver low cost stay and play sessions for local parents and their children. 

Sandwell Deaf Community Association (SDCA) - Parent/Baby and Toddler Group

The group were awarded CIL funding of £ 2,047.86.

Sandwell Deaf Community Association is a registered charity, that has been running for 20 years, providing support to several deaf community groups, as well as a range of social and deaf related services.

SDCA applied for CIL funding to set up a parent/baby and toddler Group for deaf children and/or adults at Brook Street Community Centre. The funding provided items such as specialist sensory toys and learning resources.

This funding allowed SDCA the opportunity to put on a weekly parent and toddler group for the parents who are deaf, have deaf children or both. 

Tibby Tenants Residents Association - From the Ground to the Table Project TRA 

The group were awarded CIL funding of £2,740.77.

Tibbington TRA was formed in 2009 to support families from the Tibbington estate and bring the community together. The group meet at Brook St community centre on a weekly basis and support people struggling with mental health, isolation as well as those want some social activity.

Tibbington TRA would like to develop a community allotment and garden area at Brook St Community Centre for the benefit of the local community. 
It will provide an opportunity for children to learn about growing plants and produce and act as a platform to improving health by having healthier food options.  The group would like to use the fresh produce to cook a meal and showcase all the steps from planting to cooking. 

The group received CIL funding for resources such as garden tools, compost, benches, plants etc. This provision will help to reconnect the community by providing a safe space for intergenerational reconnection post covid 19 and the garden space to be enjoyed by new and existing groups. 

Tipton Town Library Local History Group - New display cases

The group were awarded CIL funding of £4,200.00.

Tipton Town Libraries Local History Group started around 25 years ago and aims to promote interest in the local history of Tipton. They were based inside Tipton Library where they have showcased a variety of items with significant historical importance for the local area and are involved with numerous projects throughout the year.

Tipton Town Library has now relocated from Owen Street to the Carnegie Building on Victoria Road. The Local History Group has moved with the library and have now been given their own room to display their items. The old display cases were not suitable for the new room, which meant that the group did not have the appropriate furniture to create their new museum space.

The organisation has been successful in receiving CIL funding for 5 wooden glass display cabinets enabling them to display items whilst keeping them safe and secure.

This project has enabled them to display the historical items in a professional way. This will support the group’s schools history education programme, as well as improving the general publics experience of the museum, which they can access during the library’s normal opening hours.