More than £270,000 is heading to 12 Darwen projects in the first round of the new Darwen Community Fund, with cash going to community venues, youth services, sport, heritage, green spaces and the town’s music scene.
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The fund is a pilot linked to the Government’s £20m Pride in Place programme. The Darwen Town Board committed £250,000 of capacity funding to create the scheme, with the total topped up by a further £20,000.
More than 60 applications were submitted, together asking for over £1.3m.
Among the successful bids is Two Gates Bowling Green and Social Club, which has been awarded £20,000 for urgent floor repairs needed to keep the venue open.
The club, which has been running for almost 130 years, is used for bowling but also hosts live music, bingo, free family events, weddings, birthdays and other celebrations.
Chair John Bentley said the building had been facing closure because the floor needed specialist repairs, and said the funding would allow the work to go ahead.
The other successful projects are Derwent Hall, Darwen Cricket Club, Sunbird Records, Darwen Heritage Centre, Darwen Youth Zone, Junction4 Skatepark, Hoddlesden Millennium Green, the Parochial Church Council of St James Over Darwen, The Making Rooms, Launchpad and Newrad Fisheries.
Derwent Hall will use its grant to redecorate the building so more clubs and groups can use it, with income helping support low-cost meals and activities for the over-55 community.
Darwen Cricket Club’s funding will support year-round use of its indoor centre for schools, young people and the wider community, including walking cricket for older residents.
Sunbird Records will use the money to strengthen its programme as the grassroots music venue approaches its 10th anniversary.
Darwen Heritage Centre will use its award to improve access to the building and exhibitions, including for wheelchair users and families with prams.
Darwen Youth Zone’s grant will help extend its StreetZone bus to five days a week, offering activities including sport, gaming, creative arts, cooking, informal education and wellbeing support.
Junction4 Skatepark will use the funding for a Darwen Urban Culture Programme, bringing free events focused on sport, music, arts and urban culture.
At Hoddlesden Millennium Green, the money will go towards a Forest School and community activities.
The Parochial Church Council of St James Over Darwen will put the funding towards emergency building works as part of plans for a new community hub. The church currently runs a food club, daily activities, a holiday programme and support for asylum seekers and refugees.
The Making Rooms, based in the new Maker Zone at Darwen Youth Zone, will run a pilot giving young people hands-on learning aimed at building creative, technical and life skills.
Launchpad, a partnership between Blackburn College, Newground Together and Darwen Youth Zone, will continue work helping young people re-engage with education, raise aspirations and move into employment.
Newrad Fisheries will use its funding to improve its lodges for wheelchair users and tackle invasive weeds affecting the water.
The pilot fund launched in December and offered grants of up to £30,000. A full launch of the Darwen Community Fund is expected later this year.
Darwen was one of the first 75 towns selected for funding under the programme now known as Pride in Place. Although the £20m allocation was announced around 18 months ago, the full programme will only officially start this year after the Government reviews detailed investment plans.
According to the council, the funding priorities were shaped by consultation with residents, businesses and community organisations. Those priorities included improving the town centre, supporting local businesses, creating a safer town centre, providing activities for young people, improving parks and green spaces, backing music, arts and culture, supporting charities and community groups, helping manufacturers stay competitive and improving access to skills and jobs.
Darwen Town Board chair Tracey Alcock said the response to the pilot had been strong and described the 12 projects as a sign of the work already happening across the town.
Council leader and Darwen Town Board vice-chair Cllr Phil Riley said the board had tried to make sure the first round included a mix of projects for different age groups and interests.
Rossendale and Darwen MP Andy MacNae said the fund was a strong start to the wider Pride in Place programme.
