COMMUNITY and voluntary groups in Bromsgrove and Redditch with green ideas for their towns are being invited to apply for the second round of grants to help them improve the cleanliness of their area.

Bromsgrove District Council have released a second round of funds - given to them from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government - to assist community and voluntary groups to take local action within their community, high streets and village centres.

Community and voluntary groups with an idea for projects to improve the cleanliness of their local areas or that will have a positive impact on the environment are invited to bid for up to £300 with consideration given for projects up to £1,000 where innovation or overwhelming benefit to the community is demonstrated.

Round one of the grant funding aided initiatives such as litter picks, community engagement days, an event making animal waste dispensers and bat and bird boxes, tree planting and creating wildlife corridors for hedgehogs.

The funding is being administered on behalf of the Council by Bromsgrove and Redditch Network (BARN) and interested groups can apply here: https://barn.org.uk/funding/grants/

For advice on completion of the application form, call BARN on 01527 60282 or email grants@barn.org.uk.

Cllr Margaret Sherrey, whose portfolio covers Environmental Services, said: “We had some excellent projects come out of the last round of funding with lots of groups taking on the challenge of taking care of their local patch.

"Climate change is a serious problem and a problem which affects us all. This funding can allow groups to make a difference and see their environmental ideas become a reality.”

Any voluntary, charitable or community groups, Community Interest Company, schools, Parish School, or School Parent Teacher Associations that operates in Bromsgrove District or Redditch Borough can apply for the funding.

The bidding will open at 9am on Monday, January 13 and close at midday on February 10.

Successful bids will be informed by March 6. Projects need to be delivered between May 1 and June 30, 2020.

Only one application per community group will be accepted and all groups must have a constitution and bank account to apply.