A £2million Build Back Better Fund is set to be launched by the county council later this month, subject to Cabinet sign off on 21 July. The fund has been developed to help communities recover and rebuild from the impacts of Covid-19.

The fund is set to be allocated evenly across the county’s 53 divisions to allow each county councillor to support bids in their area and ensure the benefits of the investment are shared right across Gloucestershire. Each councillor will be able to allocated a total of £40,000 in grants to support their local area.

Recognising the diverse nature and needs of Gloucestershire’s communities and neighbourhoods,  criteria for bids is likely to consist of key themes including ‘community health and wellbeing’, ‘digital inclusion’, ‘nature and/or the environment’, ‘healthy lifestyles’ and ‘safer neighbourhoods’.

A range of groups and bodies will be able to submit bids including but not exclusively; community and voluntary organisations, charities, community interest companies, town and parish councils, sports groups.

Funding will need to be spent by 31 January 2025.

Further details about the proposed fund will be set out in a cabinet report, due to be published next week, that Cabinet will consider at its meeting on 21 July.