Groups and individuals funded in West Bromwich Central 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.
West Bromwich Dartmouth Cricket and Bowling Club Pathway repairs
The group were awarded CIL funding of £3,500.00
CIL funding has been approved for West Bromwich Dartmouth Cricket (and Bowling) Club to replace the pathway that enables access by spectators to the Bowling Club and Cricket Grounds.
The perimeter of the ground is a safe area for walking as there is a hand rail all the way round for safety of the older people.
Following completion of the path improvement works. This will enable access by wheelchair users as well as visually disabled people who want to attend club events and safely use the grounds. The path once completed would be open to all members of the local community as well as club members.
291 Community Trust Association - Screening People Together
The group were awarded CIL funding of £1,643.95
291 Community Association (CIO) is a well-established organisation that provides facilities for recreation and other leisure-time occupation in the interests of social welfare for the Sandwell Borough residents, mainly in West Bromwich.
291 Community Association (CIO) has received CIL funding to purchase ICT equipment to help stream activities on Zoom for their members to reduce isolation and loneliness.
The CIL funding will enable 291 Community Association (CIO) to purchase a Webcam, audio mixer, camcorder, microphone and laptop.
291 Community Association (CIO) are also supplying tablets / training to members who are unable to access the Zoom calls themselves for a period of six months which will also support their digital skills.
Hallam Street Community Project - Kitchen improvements project
The group were awarded CIL funding of £890.49
Hallam Street Community Project is a Community led Organisation providing community and social activities (i.e. luncheon and fitness clubs, disability groups, cancer choir, etc.) which are of benefit to the community.
Hallam Street Community has received CIL funding for a new cook master double oven and kitchen vent, two bins and various products to help keep participants safe i.e. masks, hand sanitiser and disposable gloves etc.
The aim of the project is seeking to improve the cooking facilities for the organisation by attracting new participants and user groups to visit the Organisation.
West Bromwich BID CIC - Town Link Radio Upgrade
The group have received £4,175.05 CIL funding.
West Bromwich Town Business Improvement District was established in 2015 following a vote from businesses in West Bromwich Town.
The BID covers 576 businesses within the BID area, including Carters Green, High Street, 4 Shopping Centres and surrounding areas.
The West Bromwich BID was established to improve the town by keeping it clean and tidy, hold events and hire Town Ambassadors to ensure businesses and residents feel safe and any issues are reported to the appropriate services.
The BID also manages a Town Radio Link scheme in partnership with various partners.
The Radio Link is an integral part of the town communication and shares real time information and knowledge from suspicious behaviour, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.
The West Bromwich BID has received CIL funding to upgrade the existing Town Radio link system, Including a software update, purchase of new batteries for existing radios and the physical upgrade of radios for the shopping centre security managers and other partners.
Sandwell Visually Impaired CIO - Information At Your Fingertips
The group were awarded CIL funding of £1,597.84
Sandwell Visually Impaired CIO is a well-respected organisation which provide support for people who live with sight loss in the Sandwell Borough.
The organisation does this by putting on; one to one, group face to face or telephone support sessions.
The aim for the organisation is to help their members become more independent by using specialised keyboards and laptops which enable their members to learn new ICT skills.
Sandwell Visually Impaired CIO has been successful in receiving CIL funding for items such as laptops, laptop cases, special big letter keyboards and Bluetooth microphone headsets.
EWA - Foodbank Provision: Tea and Coat Sandwell (#TAC)
The group were awarded CIL funding of £4,039.38
European’s Welfare Association CIC was formed in June 2013 and is based in West Bromwich. They provide services such as advice and guidance in matters related to housing, health, education, employment, welfare benefits and immigration and signpost/refer to other services.
EWA services run from Monday to Friday 9am-4:30pm. The organisation identified a demand for a food bank through their support with vulnerable residents.
EWA have therefore opened a food pantry, based at the YMCA building in West Bromwich, which is open weekly, Thursdays 9am-3pm.
EWA have been successful receiving funding for shelving, a heavy-duty trolley, scales, and storage boxes/crates which has helped them to create the food bank at the YMCA building.
The aim is to provide a food bank to help some of the most vulnerable members of the community.
Dream Live Achieve Academy CIC
The group were awarded CIL funding of £947.73
Dream Live Achieve Academy CIC has been around since 2018 and became a CIC in 2021. The purpose is to provide a safe space for young people in the community to be creative, express themselves and to keep away from street crime etc.
Dream Live Achieve Academy CIC hold dance classes every week at George Salter Academy and have around 25 young people attend. The group have extended their activities to include showcasing their work by producing visual multimedia presentations. This has allowed them to highlight issues they have as young people within the black community.
The organisation has been successful in receiving CIL funding to purchase an iPad, microphones, audio interface and SD card.
This equipment enabled the organisation to record monthly podcasts and produce dance/music videos via additional sessions.
The purchasing of these items has meant that existing and new young people have benefited from having a safe environment to learn new skills such as filming, recording podcasts and dancing.
Millennium Beat - Mind, Music and Movement
The group were awarded CIL funding of £3,268.00
Millennium Beat is a community organisation that has been running since 1998. They provide music sessions to the residents of Sandwell to support community cohesion and use the creativity of music to improve health and well-being.
The organisation conducted a consultation with around 200 people and concluded that there were concerns about declining mental and physical health within the local community. The group planned their ‘Mind, Music and Movement’ project which would allow them to help Sandwell residents through music and Yoga-Chi, a combination of yoga and Tai-Chi.
To make this project successful, Millennium Beat identified that they will need additional instruments to run their sessions. These sessions will take place across Sandwell, with the main base in West Bromwich Central.
The organisation has been successful in receiving CIL funding for 2 Tabla and Bayan sets, 2 folding Harmoniums and a Gents Tanpura.
This has enabled them to run their Mind, Music and Movement sessions across Sandwell, supporting a wide range of residents with improving their health and well-being. The instruments will also be used in their evening music class, for new members who cannot afford to purchase these specialist instruments.
VISAMO - Apna Sangeet
The group were awarded CIL funding of £1395.73
VISAMO is a voluntary lead organisation formed in 2000, based in West Bromwich. The group meet Wednesdays from 11am-3pm where they take part in a number of activities.
The group have around 150 members and the purpose of the group is to provide a safe environment for the elderly to meet up, build friendships and reduce isolation.
The organisation advised they would like to do more team activities with their members along with gentle exercises and music sessions.
VISAMO have been successful receiving CIL funding for musical instruments, games, and resistant bands. This has enabled them to provide more team activities and improve their fitness sessions.
These items have helped the members socialise more, help their mobility and better their concentration skills.
Friends of Dartmouth Park - new benches
The group were awarded CIL funding of £2,081.40
Friends of Dartmouth Park are an established organisation that was formed in 2008 to support Sandwell MBC in the restoration of Dartmouth Park.
CIL funding was approved to purchase five new park benches in Dartmouth Park.
The aim of the Project is to attract local people back into Dartmouth Park to meet up and sit on the benches to look at the views of Dartmouth Park. This Project will reduce social isolation and contribute to People’s health and wellbeing.
