Battle commences for community cash - vote now!

A total of 32 community groups in Salford have been shortlisted for a ‘Your Salix, Your Say’ grant offered by Salix Homes, where they can bid for their share of a £32,000 funding pot.

Among the hopefuls are budding beekeepers from the Grow in Brought’on project who want £2,250 to set up a bee hive at their community garden on Heath Avenue in Lower Broughton.

Also vying for the cash are dancers from the On Your Doorstep project in Ordsall who are bidding for £1,500 to run gospel Zumba classes and aspiring footballers from Barr Hill FC who want £2,000 to launch a summer football skills course for young people.

Now in its fifth year ‘Your Salix, Your Say’ gives community groups and organisations the chance to bid for up to £4,000 to help finance worthwhile projects that will help improve the area where they live.

This year £3,000 has also been allocated specifically for young people aged between 11 and 24 who have submitted their own bids of up to £500 to help fund projects or initiatives aimed at the younger generation.

In the young people’s category, finalists include a group of teenagers at the Albion Academy who want to start a community campaign – Bin it Broughton – to tackle litter in the area; and the Bee Garden Project in Ordsall who want to launch a children’s newsletter.

Sue Sutton, executive director of operations at Salix Homes, said: “Each and every one of the projects nominated has been fantastic so it’s been a very difficult job for our judges to whittle it down to the final shortlist.

“Our ‘Your Salix, Your Say’ grant has provided a lifeline for many community groups over the years and we are very proud to be able to support them to continue the fantastic work they do to improve the community for the benefit of everyone.

“There are so many deserving projects taking place in Salford, but it’s now up to the public to decide where the money should be best spent so I wish all of the finalists the very best of luck.”

Decision Day takes place on Saturday, June 27 at St Sebastian’s Community Centre in Kersal when every hopeful bidder will showcase their project before taking to the polls to vote for which project they believe should get the money.

The groups with the most votes will then get their requested bid until the £32,000 funding pot is empty, but groups cannot vote for their own project.

Members of the public can also vote on our website. Voting closes on Friday June 26. Vote now!