Community Grants 2025 Beneficiaries 2

Forest of Dean groups to receive more than £20,000 through community grants

Forest of Dean District Council is delighted to announce the new recipients of the council’s community grant for 2025 to 2026. 10 community groups from across the district will receive grants of up to £3000 to help with their work in the community. 

Cabinet Member for Thriving Communities, Cllr Jackie Dale said:

“Local community groups are vital for strengthening communities in the Forest and the health and wellbeing of our residents. As such, it’s important that we do everything we can to support these groups so they can continue to grow and provide their services. 

“We received so many applications, and it is always difficult to decide who receives the funding. Our work does not just include those who were successful, and our Community Wellbeing Team will be working closely with all who have applied to offer their support where it is required. 

“We know that this funding is invaluable to many and it’s fantastic to be able to share the grant with groups from across the Forest. I look forward to seeing more incredible work being delivered to help our communities thrive.” 

Details for this year's beneficiaries can be found below: 

Beneficiary  

Amount Awarded 

Summary of Grant 

FRED 

 £           300.00  

contribute towards the increasing costs of learner manuals 

Orchard Trust 

 £        2,042.00  

A contribution to a pilot accessible music festival  

Wye Valley River Festival 

 £        2,950.00  

Funding to continue and expand workshops supporting LGBTQ+ youth  

Yorkley Village Garden 

 £        2,356.00  

Funding to enable a range of accessibility modification to improve access as well as a rabbit fence.   

The Rising Sun, Woodcroft Community Pub 

 £        2,806.40  

Funding to enable an accessible path from the car park. 

Sling Club 

 £        2,968.00  

Development of a Community Garden 

Forest of Dean Swimming Club 

 £           300.00  

Funding to purchase a reconditioned laptop to support and enable club sustainability and resilience.     

Canopy 

 £        1,250.00  

A contribution to enable engagement to be broadened with LGBTQ+ at the Festival in Newent in September and October 2025    

Sedbury Space 

 £        2,957.00  

Funding to enable new projects to be established: clothes and plant swap, armed forces support group, family foodshare and food waste reduction 

Bream Gardening Group 

 £        2,270.74  

Equipment funding to enable the group to expand existing projects and develop new initiates to further enable local food resilience. 

 

The community grant is aimed at local organisations to help them build capacity at a community level and continue the great services they provide to communities across the district.  

Successful groups will have been contacted by the council’s Community Wellbeing Team, letting them know how much funding they have been allocated. Those groups who were not successful in their bid will continue to get support and advice from the team on alternative funding sources and other creative forms of support. 

Further details as to the grant process and awarded grants from previous years can be found here: https://www.fdean.gov.uk/communities-health-and-leisure/community-grants-and-funding/  

Contact Information

Forest of Dean Communications Team

[email protected]

Notes to editors

Photographed are representatives from the various community groups who have received grants, along with staff from Forest of Dean District Council.