PROJECTS in the Torridge area have benefitted from the first round of the council’s new ‘Homes Bonus Community Grant’ scheme, which started on April 1, 2016 — including projects in Holsworthy, St Giles on the Heath and Broadwoodwidger.

The scheme awards funding to help local communities improve by ensuring there is a lasting legacy of positive development.

There have been two funding opportunities for communities in Torridge. The first provides all 23 wards with a sum of £10,000 each, known as ward grants, which can be used to assist or help develop small community projects.

The second is a ‘corporate’ fund for 2016/17 of approximately £200,000, which is available for local parishes, town councils, voluntary orgaisations and community groups to bid into for larger projects.

Three projects that have benefitted from the new grant scheme. Holsworthy’s Stanhope Pavilion refurbishment requested £35,000 from the community grants scheme to go towards the total projects cost of £385,425.

St Giles on the Heath’s extension project of the community shop requested £25,000 from the community grants scheme as part of the total project’s costs of £42,000.

Broadwoodwidger Community Hub requested £15,912 for the development of a community hall from the community grants scheme as part of a total project cost of £45,000.