CCF, local funder for Grassroots Grants in Cambridgeshire, celebrated hitting the government set targets for grants to be awarded under the Grassroots Scheme in its first year of operation.  154 small volunteer led groups received a share of the £235,000 of grant money.  The money went to a wide range of groups across the county including:

• Coton Village Hall received a grant to allow them to buy a new range cooker to provide meals for the village luncheon club 
• Ely Youth Initiative who received funding to help with running costs and training of staff/volunteers for their Friday night youth club 
• Mepal and Witcham Stay N Play After School Club received funding to enable them to buy two new laptops
• Gransdens Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Society received a grant to buy some lockable storage for their equipment.

In addition to allocating all the grant money available in Cambridgeshire for the 0809 financial year, CCF will also be claiming the maximum amount offered under the Grassroots Endowment Challenge thanks to a number of significant donations from local businesses and individuals.  The money received will be used to build endowed funds which will be held by CCF and used to generate income for long term, sustainable, financial support for local charitable groups and projects.

The CCF team have worked hard to make sure the scheme is a success in its first year of operation and they have certainly delivered.  Now the hard work begins to do the same for the second year of the programme.