HAMPSHIRE County Council is launching a new initiative which gives all county councillors £10,000 to donate to community projects in their area. Applications for the grants can range from £100 to £10,000 and can be used for starting up new projects, helping existing projects or can be used for one-off items of expenditure, such as new equipment. Councillor for Whitehill, Bordon and Lindford, Adam Carew, (pictured), said: "This extra money is very welcome and it will be spent on community projects here in the local area. "Some councillors have chosen to put most of their money into one big project, but I want to see this money benefit as many local groups as possible." Applicants for grant money will have to demonstrate that they meet one or more of the county council's corporate priorities, such as enhancing quality of place, maximising well-being or making the community safer for all. Mr Carew added: "I will look particularly favourably at new schemes that benefit the wider community in areas such as local heritage, the environment, arts, leisure and community safety. "These grants are available now. Application forms, eligibility criteria and details of how to apply are available on Hantsweb and are ready to be downloaded." Applications will not be accepted from individuals, political parties, lobbying organisations, groups outside the division – unless they can prove they are benefiting a number of local people within it. Providing all the criteria are met, it will be entirely up to each county councillor who will receive the grants to and how much they will be donating. As councillors do not receive any officer support to process, catalogue or administer applications – it will be up to each councillor as to when they are granted, depending on workload. For details log on to: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/">http://www3.hants.gov.uk/ grants/cx-grants-search-all-grants/county councillor-grants.htm Send completed down loaded forms to Adam Carew, County Councillor's Grant c/o: The Castle, Winchester, Hants SO23 8UJ.
