Loughborough University is reminding community groups across Charnwood that the end of January is the deadline for bids to its new Special Projects Fund.

The Special Projects Fund is one of five rounds of funding offered by the University as part of its Community Donations Fund programme. Announced in November last year, the new Fund has been designed to support projects that are ‘one-off’ in or ‘special’ in nature.

A total of £60,000 has been allocated for this fund which will be available annually until 2017. A maximum of £15,000 is available per year and bids between £5000 and £15,000 will be considered. Two year funding, up to a maximum of £30,000 is a possibility.

Capital and/or revenue projects, including staff posts will qualify for funding but bids to support general administration are not considered appropriate for this fund. Bidding organisations must be non-political in nature and based in Charnwood.

Bids should be submitted by 5pm on Thursday 29 January.  Further information about the Special Project Fund, an application form and details of the application process is available by visiting www.lboro.ac.uk/community

Alison Barlow, Community Relations Officer for the University comments: “We are delighted to be able to offer the Special Projects Fund again this year.  We hope this fund will allow some community groups to deliver projects that they might have previously considered to be unachievable.”