Community grants

Active Communities Grant Scheme

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on levels of physical activity but has been most acute across disadvantaged groups and areas of higher deprivation.

While there are signs of recovery for activity levels as restrictions have eased, not all groups or demographics are affected or recovering at the same rate. 

Our Leisure and Public Health teams in collaboration with Be Active Beds have developed a new grant scheme designed to help residents become more physically active.

Small grants of up to £5,000 are available to apply for by voluntary and community groups including town/parish councils. The new fund is designed to help communities that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19, lockdown and restrictions on social interaction will benefit from the fund. Applicants will need to be able to explain how their idea or project will make a difference and deliver increased physical activity to one or more priority sections of the Central Bedfordshire population below:

  • women
  • young people aged 16 to 34
  • over 75s
  • disabled people and people with long-term health conditions
  • culturally diverse communities
  • those living in areas of higher deprivation

Bidding rounds

The grant fund operated within two bidding rounds.

No further bidding rounds are planned and the scheme is now closed.

Bidding round 2 – approved projects

Bidding round 2 – approved projects (total funding £56,514.50)
Organisation Project Amount

Stotfold Good Neighbour Group

Chair Base Exercise Classes

£1,900.00

Music24

Singing Cafe

£3,348.00

Chalgrave Sports Club

Yoga

£2,440.00

Imagination Dance

Dance for Older People: Care Homes

£4,860.00

Grand Union Housing

Gardening for Wellbeing

£5,000.00

Ampthill Town Council

Chair Exercise Classes

£1,503.50

Dunstable Football Club

Disability and Over 75 provisions

£5,000.00

Shefford Town Council

Chair-based Exercises

£1,000.00

Dunstable Town Council

Exercise and sports provision for 16-34 y/o

£5,000.00

Beds RCC

Dance for older people

£5,000.00

Flitwick Town Council

Exercise classes

£1,250.00

Leighton Linslade Rotary Club

Yes We Can programme - accessible sport

£4,825.00

Ampthill Cricket Club

Encouraging women and girls

£1,500.00

Friends of Windsor Drive

Activities for All on Windsor Drive Open Space

£2,946.00

Lets Get Going

chair based exercise, movement and games

£4,422.00

Re:connect Yoga

Yoga for chronic pain

£4,320.00

Bidding round 1 – approved projects

Bidding round 1 – approved projects (total funding £24,383.90)
Organisation Project Amount
Beds RCC Accessibility of Dunstable Community Halls Community Garden £5,000
Groundwork East Boxing Exercise and Skills £5,000
Shefford Town Council Outdoor Fitness in Shefford £2,939.90
Eversholt Parochial Charity Chair Yoga for Balance, Strength and Mobility £2,800
MacIntyre Lifelong Learning Back in Service £4,544
Blunham Football Club Extension into Walking Football and Added Girls Team at under 10 £4,100