Monday, 27 February 2023 10:48

Residents organising community events to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III are being urged by Derbyshire County Council to take advantage of a number of grants available.

The Coronation takes place on Saturday 6 May and to celebrate this historic occasion there is expected to be a wide variety of community events held over the weekend and extra bank holiday on Monday 8 May.

Grants ranging from a few hundred pounds up to £10,000 are available to community groups, clubs, local charities, and organisations holding celebrations.

DCC leader Councillor Barry Lewis said: “It’s an historic occasion and I hope that groups and organisations from across the county will apply for the available funds to get their events and commemorative activities off to a flying start.

The county council’s Derbyshire Grants scheme has up to £1,000 available for events that meet certain criteria.

As it can take up to three weeks to assess an application, applications should be made as soon as possible so they can be processed in time and the money released to successful groups.

To find out more and to apply, groups should go to www.derbyshire.gov.uk/derbyshiregrants

Grants for Coronation events can also be applied for from DCC councillors, who each receive £3,860 from the authority’s Members Community Leadership Scheme (MCLS) which local groups can apply for to go towards community causes, activities, and events.

This year each councillor has been given an additional £1,500 which groups can apply for to hold Coronation-related events.

Groups seeking MCLS funding should contact their local county councillor explaining their project, activity or event, the amount needed, what other funding may be available and how it will benefit the community.

More information is available at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/communityleadershipscheme

For larger grants, groups and organisations may want to apply to the National Lottery Awards for All scheme, where funding from £300 up to £10,000 is available to support events and activities to celebrate and commemorate the Coronation on or around the long weekend (6-8 May).

Projects could be a one-off event or activity taking place around the Coronation weekend, such as events or activities engaging people from different generations or events aimed at reducing isolation and encouraging people so socialise, for example a street party or community cooking event.

For more information go to www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk