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Residents encouraged to bid for Big Society funding
Community-minded residents are to be given the chance to bid for a slice of a £600,000 fund set up by Barnet Council to kick starting local projects.
The Big Society Innovation Bank will allow residents and not-for-profit groups to submit bids for sums of between £500 and £50,000 to help turn their ideas into a reality.
The initiative will be officially launched on 15 June.
The Innovation Bank is intended to encourage those who approach local challenges with creativity or with entrepreneurial solutions.
Projects could vary from those finding new ideas to solve old problems to those coming up with a new, innovative approach to providing a council-run service.
Bids should meet one or both of the following criteria: Innovate to help your local community and shift power from the state to citizens.
If the council feels the idea has potential it will provide the cash and support to make it happen.
In total there will be £600,000 over three years with £200,000 available in 2011/12.
Anyone interested in attending should email:
innovation.bank@barnet.gov.uk
Councillor Robert Rams, Member for Customer Access and Partnerships, said: “We have funded the Big Society Innovation Bank with reductions in senior management pay as the council has adapted to the changing financial climate.
“We believe a small amount of money can help unleash a lot of energy to develop entirely new ways of addressing local issues.
“The people often with the best solutions to tackling local problems are often those with their ear closest to the ground and we would love to hear from you.”
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