Regeneration programme fund seeks to enhance local economy

Opportunity Goole, one of eight projects which make up the Goole Town Deal regeneration programme, is launching a new grant funding scheme for both individuals and organisations can apply to.

Grants of up to £50,000 will be available from the end of July.

To be eligible for the funding, applicants must be able to demonstrate that their grant will enhance the local economy in some way and that they wouldn’t have been able to access the funding elsewhere.

The grant scheme will be open to organisations initially and will then begin to accept applications from individuals soon afterwards.

Opportunity Goole project manager, Dawn Redfern, said: “The eligibility criteria is deliberately very broad and the grant scheme is open to anyone over the age of 16 in the Goole area.

“The main requirement is that the grants should be used to boost the local economy in some way.

“So, for example, an organisation may want to apply for grant funding to pay for some training for its workforce.

“Meanwhile, an individual could apply for funding towards transport costs to help them secure employment or give them access to training.

“However, if applicants can access the funding they need elsewhere, we’ll signpost them to that instead. The idea is that the Opportunity Goole grant scheme provides financial support that people can’t find elsewhere.”

Phil Jones, chairman of the Goole Town Deal Board, added: “Since its launch earlier this year, Opportunity Goole has already delivered some really positive outcomes for both individuals and employers.

“The launch of this new grant scheme is a really positive step because it has been designed to fill a gap in existing provision so the criteria is very broad and flexible.”

Members of the Opportunity Goole team are able to help and advise applicants with their grant funding applications.

Anyone who would like to apply or find out more is asked to e-mail the team at: opportunity.goole@eastriding.gov.uk