Local people who want to find out more about the projects being developed thanks to Trafford Council's Neighbourhood Voluntary Sector Grants Scheme can do so now on the council's website.

The Voluntary Sector Grants Scheme was launched back in March. Local people were invited to develop innovative projects that would tackle the most challenging issues in each of Trafford's four neighbourhoods - North, South, Central and West - with each individual neighbourhood having £50,000 to spend on community projects.

One of the key themes of the scheme was to place more decision-making into the hands of local residents and communities. The council ensured that this ambition was realised by making sure that the grants were decided by people who live and work within the local communities. Decisions were made at special events in June and July where residents saw presentations from a range of projects and then voted on their favourites.

There are a wide range of projects supporting communities to improve health and wellbeing, community buildings and facilities, skills and employment and opportunities for young people. For example, the Community Champions scheme, in the South and West neighbourhood, are currently recruiting for a variety of leadership courses which are free of charge in return for people's time in leading community sports sessions in local areas. The Salvation Army, in the Central neighbourhood, is also making progress in creating a community garden and allotment scheme for residents in the Sale area.

Executive Member for Strong Communities, Cllr Jonathan Coupe, said: "The neighbourhood voluntary sector grant scheme shows the way forward in giving local communities the opportunity to put power into their hands by deciding where and how grant money will be spent in their local area. Local people are now using this money to improve the lives of their neighbours, friends and local people, through projects that they have developed on the ground."

For a complete list and description of all of the grant schemes please visit
http://www.trafford.gov.uk/communityandliving/strongercommunities/voluntarysectorgrant/default.asp

For more information contact Trafford Council's Partnerships Team at partnershipsteam@trafford.gov.uk or on 0161 912 4027/minicom 0161 912 1453.