Grant Scheme Open and New AONB Communications and Support Officer

Community groups and businesses can now bid into the £25,000 pot of the North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty’s small grant scheme. Last year, thirteen projects were funded with grants averaging £1,800 matched with cash and in-kind time. These included Braunton Burrows walks leaflet, extending Brownsham Car Park, bat habitat improvements at Croyde, restoring sign posts around Hartland and Berrynarbor and equipment for volunteers at the Meddon Green Local Nature Reserve. The Sustainable Development Fund is supported by Defra to help deliver the policies and actions in the AONB’s current Management Plan.

The grant scheme is now being administered by Laura Carolan, the new Communications and Support Officer for the AONB. “We want to fund new projects from community groups, organisations or businesses that will benefit or improve the stunning natural beauty, wildlife or heritage of our special coastal landscape in the AONB,” said Laura. “Grants can cover up to 75% of the project cost, and range in size from £500 up to £5,000 for an exceptional project. We can also support projects that help people to discover, understand and experience the coastal area to benefit their health and wellbeing.”

Steve Mulberry, Chairman of the AONB Partnership said, “We are delighted to have Laura on board, driving the Sustainable Development Fund forward and our communications and community engagement work. This year, we want to focus on projects related to Health and Wellbeing or the Historic features and culture of the coast, including both practical activities and projects benefitting people”.

If you have a project idea, check out the guidance and application form on our website www.northdevoncoast-nl.org.uk/our-work/grants or call Laura Carolan on 01271 388628 or laura.carolan@devon.gov.uk to talk it through.