AN EDEN village is set to benefit from a new village hall in April 2015, when building work will be completed.

Warcop is just one area of Eden to benefit from an Eden Community Fund award.

A new round of funding is available for the 2015-16 financial year, totalling £110,000 and applications are now being invited.

Eden District Council is the organisation behind the Eden Community Fund and in 2013 they awarded £20,000 towards the creation of a new village hall at Warcop, which helped make up vitally needed match funding towards a Big Lottery grant of £500,000.

Sue Fell, working party secretary for Warcop Village Hall, said; “The construction phase of our new village hall is nearly finished and it’s great to see it all coming together. The entire project is due to be completed the end of April when we will hold a big community celebration.

“We were delighted to receive an offer of £500,000 from the Big Lottery Reaching Communities Programme but had to act fast to secure the match funding required. The sale of the old village hall and reading room made up the majority but we still needed other funding. We were fortunate to receive grants from a number of funders, including from the Council’s Eden Community Fund.”

The Council’s Eden Community Fund has awarded a total of £370,000 to 77 community projects and events that deliver wide community benefit in Eden over the past two years.

Eden District Council’s communities director Ruth Atkinson said: “The Eden Community Fund is an excellent way for local community groups to access money to improve and sustain community facilities and to support local events. It has proved very popular over the last two years and we have seen a huge commitment of time and energy from these groups.

“Our funding is used in a variety ways, including as we have seen with Warcop Village Hall to help secure grants from other sources such as the National Lottery. I am looking forward to seeing what exciting and innovative projects and events come forward this year. If you have an idea or a project that you need financial support to help get off the ground, please contact us for help with an application.”

Projects supported by the Eden Community Fund in 2014-15 include:

• New children’s play areas at Hackthorpe and Milton Street, Penrith

• Cumbria CVS volunteering celebration event

• Improvements to community buildings at Culgaith, Winton, Greystoke, Ravenstonedale, Temple Sowerby, Maulds Meaburn, Crosby Ravensworth and Newbiggin

• Scaws Multi Use Games Area (MUGA)

• EdenSave Credit Union - marketing

• Penrith Beekeepers apiary training

• Ullswater and Eden Tennis Club indoor facility

• Ousby swings

• Bolton Exchange – improvements to equipment

• PACT ‘Our Trees Festival’

• CAFS Cold to Cosy Homes

• Eden Arts lighting equipment

• Barton Parish Council – communications

• Sports equipment for Staffield and Penrith cricket clubs, Young Peoples North and Eden Hoosiders Scout Unit

The Eden Community Fund in 2015-16 will fund the purchase of capital items such as equipment. The maximum that can be applied for towards a project is £10,000 (this threshold is lower than in 2013 when Warcop Village Hall applied to the Fund) and the minimum is £500. For community events, the maximum that can be applied for is £5,000 and the minimum, £200.

Up to 80% of total costs can be applied for; applicants will need to find at least 20% match funding from other sources. Grants will be awarded in two stages, with 75% being paid upfront and 25% on completion.

The Eden Community Fund has two application rounds in 2015-16 with deadlines for submitting applications on 29 May and 9 October 2015.

For more information, to check eligibility, criteria, download application forms and guidance notes, visit: www.eden.gov.uk/edencommunityfund or contact the Council on email: edencommunityfund@eden.gov.uk or telephone: 01768 817817.