Secure A Special Grant For Your Community Group From Gatwick

Secure A Special Grant For Your Community Group From Gatwick

There is good news for community groups and organisations looking for funding in 2019 from Gatwick Airport Community Trust (GACT). The funding programme, now in its 18th year, is open to applications from those who think a financial award can make a difference to their local community.

Community organisers and leaders are being invited to submit their applications for a grant from GACT to help fund a project or community-based facilities. Groups and organisations from those for young people, the arts, the environment, sport, the elderly and the disabled are invited to apply but they need to hurry as the deadline for applications is just weeks away on Thursday, February 28.

The trust is an independent charity, has been awarding grants each year to local community projects for the past 17 years, and during that time hundreds of projects have benefitted from funds. It was set up in 2002 as part of the legal arrangements between West Sussex County Council, Crawley Borough Council and Gatwick Airport Ltd following the release publication of the airport’s Sustainable Development Strategy.

The purpose of establishing the trust was based on the principle of ensuring that, as the international airport continued to grow, funds generated by the existence of the airport should be made available to a board of independent trustees and they should be directed back into the community – a wide range of the diverse local community – that is affected by the airport, its operations and its continuing growth.

Last year, GACT appointed Joanna Rettie as the trust’s new chairperson, following the retirement of Mike Roberts after 17 years. Jo, as well as her work with GACT, runs the Gatwick Airport Airline Consultative Committee and the Airline Operators Committee, prior to this she worked for British Airways (BA) in different operational and managerial roles for the UK’s largest  airline and global giant.

Jo says: “One of my roles at BA was working with the Gatwick community in Community Relations. I am looking forward to bringing some of that expertise to the Gatwick Airport Community Trust and making sure that the annual grant funding programme continues to flourish.”

In 2018, GACT awarded grants to 102 projects totalling more than £207,000, most of the grants ranged from £1,000 to £5,000, with beneficiaries including scout groups and village halls as well as sports clubs, choirs, theatre groups, and pre-schools. GACT also pledged an award of £20,000 spread over two years to support the work of Crawley Open House.

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Apply For A Community Today

Grant applications are assessed by a board of nine trustees who bring local knowledge and expertise to the trust ensuring that the money is used to the maximum benefit of the Gatwick community. For more information about applying for a grant for your community group or organisation, visit: www.gact.org.uk

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