Community projects handed six-figure boost by Mayor

Sporting Communities and Community Action Derby have been presented with hundreds of thousands of pounds from a fund established by the East Midlands Combined County Authority.

Mayor of the East Midlands Claire Ward recently visited both organisations to present them with cash from her £3 million Community Development Fund.

Sporting Communities has been awarded £296,766 for Normanton Together, while Community Action Derby has received £257,507 for Arboretum Matters.

Normanton Together aims to deliver language and life-skills classes to promote community cohesion, while Arboretum Matters will train dozens of community leaders to help deliver hundreds of volunteer hours.

Arboretum and Normanton are two of 10 neighbourhoods across the EMCCA area chosen for investment after being identified as facing high levels of disadvantage and having fewer local community and voluntary organisations than other areas.

Mayor Claire said: “I’m thrilled to see this funding reach the heart of communities like Arboretum and Normanton.

“Local people know their neighbourhoods best, and these projects show what can be achieved when we back their ideas.

“These neighbourhoods have been overlooked for too long, despite the strength, diversity and determination of the people who live there.

“This investment is about putting power and resources directly into local hands so communities can shape the changes they want to see.

“By supporting community-led projects like these, we’re building stronger, healthier neighbourhoods, boosting pride in place and ensuring everyone across our region has the chance to share in its future.”

Arboretum Matters will deliver locally managed micro grants, enabling residents to fund and lead “high-impact grassroots activities” to tackle “crisis of inequality with devastating gaps in life chances” the ward faces.

Jonathan Dwerryhouse, Community Action Derby’s strategy and partnerships manager, said: “We’re thrilled to have been awarded the Mayor’s Community Development Fund for Arboretum.

“Community Action has worked within Derby’s communities for 50 years, and we’re excited to develop new grassroots initiatives alongside our community partners that will build stronger communities.”

Normanton Together will use Normanton Park as a hub to create a network of support across the ward.

Planned work includes environmental clean-ups and language and life-skill classes.

Ross Podyma, Sporting Communities strategic director, said: “Normanton is a uniquely vibrant place, shaped by a rich blend of cultures, backgrounds, and lived experiences.

“This exciting investment will strengthen their sense of belonging, enhance wellbeing across the community, and deepen the relationships between partners so that our work together is sustainable and impactful.

“We are truly grateful for this award and for the confidence it places in our partnership. It will help us continue building a better, fairer future for the community of Normanton – together.”