Corby Town Council has announced the launch of a new Grass Roots Fund worth £5,000, aimed at supporting residents during the winter period and the early weeks of the New Year.
The fund is intended to provide rapid, small-scale financial assistance to local groups working to support mental wellbeing, social connection and financial resilience across the town.
Grants of up to £250 are available and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The council said the scheme is designed to deliver funding quickly so that community support can be put in place without delay.
A key feature of the Grass Roots Fund is its accessibility. Corby Town Council has confirmed that non-constituted groups are eligible to apply. Groups do not need formal legal status or a written constitution, provided they are known within the local community.
The council said this approach is intended to ensure funding reaches a wide range of neighbourhoods and informal support networks, making it one of the most accessible funding schemes it has offered.
The initiative recognises that the period after Christmas can bring increased emotional and financial pressures for many residents. The fund will support a range of local activities, including wellbeing and mental health sessions, projects tackling loneliness, warm spaces for residents to meet, and youth engagement initiatives during the winter term.
The application process has been kept deliberately simple to allow funds to be distributed swiftly.
Cllr Simon Rielly, Leader of Corby Town Council, said: “We want this scheme to provide timely support when residents need it most. By launching after Christmas, we are targeting a period where mental wellbeing pressures often increase. This fund will enable local groups to step in with meaningful support and create stronger, more connected communities across Corby.”
