£400,000 in grants awarded to community groups 

A total of £400,000 is being awarded in grants to local community groups and voluntary organisations from our Community Catalyst Fund. 

Across the city, 45 groups are to benefit from grants ranging from £1,000 to £20,000. 

They include residents’ groups, projects working with young people, an anti-racism organisation, a homeless charity and a befriending service.

Improving the wellbeing of residents and communities 

The Community Catalyst Fund grants are for projects that improve the wellbeing of residents and communities experiencing poverty, as well as projects that support the ambitions of the council plan to create a fairer, healthier and more inclusive city that works for all. 

A panel of local residents was involved in awarding the funding, to make sure that decisions were informed by people who understand what works best for, and is needed by, residents and communities. 

Grants are being awarded to groups over 2 years, with half of the money being paid this year and half next year. 

Among those awarded grants are: 

  • Sussex Nightstop, who will use the grant to support young people needing emergency temporary accommodation to be safely hosted by local residents.
  • Pelican Parcels, who will use the grant towards the running costs of their service supporting families in need to access supplies.
  • Hummingbird Refugee Project, grant toward project running costs including their drop-in advice service, language classes and social and mentoring support.
  • Unemployed Centre Families Project, grant towards their Volunteer Support Programme enabling over 100 project volunteers at the centre.
  • Old Boat Community Association for Old Boat Community Centre, for running costs, enabling residents to have a warm space and low-cost activities.  

Councillor Mitchie Alexander, Cabinet member for Communities, Equalities, Public Health and Adult Social Care, said: “We have some amazing community groups across Brighton & Hove, who work so passionately to help make our city a fairer, healthier, and more inclusive place. 

“These grants will help to support their work on a wide range of projects that are making such a difference to the lives of local people and local communities.” 

Councillor Alexander added: “We would like to say a big thank you to the residents on our community panel, who helped to assess the applications to ensure the grants are awarded where they are needed most.” 

Find out more and see the full list of groups awarded grants