Over the next six months, we will be allocating funding to support LiveWest services or projects, community groups and organisations who support our customers with digital initiatives and ideas to enhance community spaces, particularly as a result of measures needed to address the effects of Covid-19.
The total amount of £100,000 will be split between these two categories. The digital programme will see £50,000 of support for projects that boost the opportunities for our customers to access digital facilities in the community, improve digital skills or help to overcome connectivity barriers.
Tim Wotton, our Grants Manager, said: “We recognise the importance of our customers being able to get online and access digital services.
“We believe that not only is digital access essential in managing day to day living in the modern world, but also digital access can bring benefits in terms of social isolation, managing households, benefits and budgeting, and as a tool to support social inclusion and wellbeing.”
The other £50,000 of our new grants programme will be used to support community spaces, including community centres, communal rooms or other spaces used by the community and providing direct benefit to our customers.
Among those encouraged to apply are hubs delivering community focused projects, and groups or organisations that utilise a specific community spaces.
LiveWest services, schemes or projects are also encouraged to apply for the funding which will enable them to deliver their programme aims.
Tim Wotton added: “LiveWest works in partnership with a wide range of community organisations to maintain or develop new viable community spaces.
“Many existing community spaces have been hit hard by coronavirus and are now reconfiguring and changing what they do, and how they deliver.
“The aim of our finding is to support sustainable community spaces that will benefit LiveWest residents and the broader community.
“We recognise that community spaces are an important asset to the community, and we want to help them continue to operate and deliver projects and activities that make a real difference to the wellbeing of our customers.”
The deadline to apply for a grant is 14 November.
Customers struggling with digital access can also contact us through our crisis and hardship grants programme.
Find out more and apply for a grant here.
Please note, the grants we offer are subject to change. To find out what grants are currently available, visit our Grants page.