SWINDON groups can apply for a slice of £100,000 in funding to help improve the lives of people in their neighbourhoods.

Community groups are being urged to apply for cash from the Grand Ideas Fund, which will offer grants of £1,000.

The fund is managed by Sanctuary Group and will fund ideas that help improve the lives of residents and their neighbourhoods but require financial support.

The housing and care provider is now inviting applications for a share of the funding from charities, community groups and voluntary organisations.

Projects supported through the funding stream will address one or more of five key themes – employment, education, skills and training; health and wellbeing; community safety and infrastructure; environment; and financial inclusion.

Marie-Claire Berreen, Sanctuary Group’s head of community investment, said the grant scheme was linked to the firm’s role in providing homes.

“We are a business that operates at the heart of neighbourhoods and are committed to investing in community-led programmes, projects and facilities which address the needs of our customers,” she said.

“The money we are making available through our Grand Ideas Fund is more than ever before and we aim to support as many groups as possible so they can deliver local activities and make a real difference to people’s lives.”

The funding is part of Sanctuary’s ongoing commitment to community investment.

The group, which is based in Worcester, invested more than £1.5 million in communities last year which benefited over 35,000 people.

Projects supported included funding for a mobile youth centre which provided learning opportunities for young people, an outdoor gym, animation workshops to help children learn how to make animated films, arts and crafts and gardening clubs.

Groups looking to apply can find out more should visit sanctuary-housing.co.uk/grand-ideas-fund, where they can complete the Grand Ideas Fund application form.

Groups can call Sanctuary’s Community Investment team on 01905 335411 or email community@sanctuary-housing.co.uk for more information.