Do you have an idea for a project that will benefit De Beauvoir? Apply now to De Beauvoir Community First

The De Beauvoir Ward Community First Panel has been set up in order to distribute £30,000 of funding provided by the Cabinet Office to support social action and civil society in the ward. The funding is to be distributed over the next three years.

The Panel are now looking for applicants for its 2012-2013 grants. All grants distributed need to meet one or more of the Panel's overarching objectives which are:

• Bringing different communities in De Beauvoir ward closer together.
• Developing opportunities and skills for people in De Beauvoir, such as assisting people in developing skills to find a job, building computer and Internet skills.
• To improve the look and feel of the area where we live, such as environmental friendly schemes.
• To Encourage healthy living

In addition all applications need to provide some sort of matched funding to the grant to be received - whether that be through money, donated materials or volunteer time - and have De Beauvoir ward as their main focus.

If you have an idea and would like to apply you can download the application form here (to be able to type into it choose the second option and download as a doc not pdf) and guidance notes here. This year the panel have a total of £8,489 to allocate.

All application forms need to be submitted to debeauvoir.london@gmail.com by the evening of March 12th. The Panel will meet immediately after this to decide on which applications should be approved and then will need to submit its final decisions and supporting information to the Community Development Foundation by the end of March.

If you have any questions on your application or anything about the application process please contact debeauvoir.london@gmail.com and one of the panel will get back to you.

The De Beauvoir Community First panel members are all residents of De Beauvoir ward and are Fran Pearson (chair), Clare Elson, Pelumi Igunnubole, Kamaru Adams, Ann Marie Orr, and Edd Southerden.

Last year the Panel made grants to Hackney Pirates, the Canals in Hackney User Group, St Peters Crypt and Grow and Eat.

You can read more about Community First here.

As ward councillors we were very happy to be able to be part of setting up the Panel and look forward to seeing a wide range of applicants for this years' funding!