Voluntary sector hit as budget constraints limit council grants

East Riding Council has received applications from 24 voluntary and community groups seeking a combined total of 134,445.

But the amount available in the authority's budget is 73,000 and a report to the council's cabinet today recommends that is not exceeded.

A total of 17 applications are recommended for approval, 10 of which are for grants of less than 1,000.

Seven organisations are set to be turned down on the basis that either they already receive council funding in the form of paid staff, that their umbrella organisation has received a grant, or more appropriate sources of funding are available.

Priority is being given to groups which can demonstrate a clear educational function, provide services to young people in rural areas where there is an identified need, and to those which help build capacity in the community and voluntary sector.

Subject to cabinet approval, four organisations are set to get individual awards of 12,900 each – East Riding Council for Voluntary Youth Services, East Riding Federation of Young Farmers, Girlguiding East Yorkshire, and Humberside Scout Council.

A grant of 12,500 is earmarked for the Community Anti-Bullying Project, with the next biggest award being the 4,000 recommended for the St Michael and All Angels' Youth Project.

Other recommended recipients include Youth Talking Point – 2,000; FiND1 –950; Young People's Delivery Group – 500; Gilberdyke Cricket Club – 400; and ADHD East Riding – 350, while seven other projects are awarded just 100 each.

Of these, the funding for FiND1 will support staffing costs for an organisation that provides more than 40 activity days for 39 young people with severe learning difficulties.

The group is also encouraged to make an application for financial assistance from the Youth Opportunities Fund.

Of the successful sporting applications, Gilberdyke Cricket Club's grant will buy covers for the wicket and provide coaching in schools; Bridlington Rangers JFC will have 200 to spend on footballs and barriers; and Elloughton Blackburn Football Club will get 100 to form an under-sevens team.

Of those set to miss out, Hull Catholic Fellowship – which provides activities for adults and teenagers with learning disabilities – will not get the 500 it requested to fund a trip to Scarborough Sea Life Centre.

Rock Solid Youth Club will have a 200 application to buy sports equipment and materials turned down; the Withernsea-based Green Fingers Gang will not get the 1,000 it was seeking to buy gardening tools; and Beverley Schools Christian Trust will have its bid for 1,000 rejected.

The latter employs two part-time staff who work in schools providing support in areas including special needs, religious education and collective worship.

The workers also provide individual support for some pupils with anger management problems and to assist those considered vulnerable to exclusion.

Only one group that applied for a grant of 1,000 or more got nothing – 1st Hornsea Scout Group who were seeking 2,100 – and only one of the groups seeking 1,000 or more – the Community Anti-Bullying Project – got all the money it asked for.

The biggest single application was for 25,974 by Youth Talking Point, followed by East Riding Council for Voluntary Youth Services – 20,000; East Riding Federation of Young Farmers and Humberside Scout Council – both 18,000; and Girlguiding East Yorkshire – 16,500.