A NEW grant scheme has been launched to support Ryedale communities.

Ryedale District Council has launched a Rural Community Grant Scheme to support the district’s most sparsely populated areas, with a population under 1,500 people.

£160,000 of funding has been approved by Ryedale Councillors for the grant, with each qualifiying parish allocated £1,467.

Projects within parishes can apply individually for their allocation of £1,467, or a collaborative application can be submitted by numerous parishes for up to the total funding allocated to the ward.

A breakdown of funding for each ward can be found here: https://www.ryedale.gov.uk/resources/guidance-for-applications-to-the-rural-community-grant-scheme/

Allocated funding may be redistributed in the event that a parish or ward receives an insufficient number of applications.

The grant is aimed towards parish councils, grass roots community groups and organisations working on rural projects that support the sustainability, resilience and viability of remote, rural communities.

Margaret Wallace, director for people and resources at Ryedale District Council, said: 

 “This funding aims to support projects which support our rural priorities such as creating safe places to live, improving the economic or social resilience of a community or improving IT and broadband connections."

Full details and guidance for applications to the grant can be found here: https://www.ryedale.gov.uk/information/community/community-support/rural-community-grant-scheme/

The closing date for the scheme is November 21, 2022, with decisions on successful applicants expected on February 9, 2023.