A new fund, which will see more than £2million invested in the local voluntary and community sector and boost support for adults, children and young people across the borough, will be launched next month.

Dudley Council has earmarked funding to be reinvested over the next three years as part of its special voluntary sector innovation fund.

The money will come from a range of funding streams including the council’s Public Health Grant and a three year investment of £500,000 per year from the £7million granted to the Dudley health and social care economy by the government as part of the Improved Better Care Fund.

The council is looking for groups and organisations to bid for a share of the funding to deliver projects that help improve the lives of adults, children and young people. Groups and organisations of any size can put forward project plans but to be successful they must show their ideas are new, innovative, sustainable and able to achieve the best outcomes for local people.

Groups interested in getting involved can find out more at a launch event on Tuesday December 5 at Revival Fires, Wolverhampton Street, Dudley. Councillor Peter Miller, cabinet member for health and well being, said:

“As a community council we recognise that the voluntary and community sector has an important part to play in our efforts to improve the lives of people in our community and it’s fantastic we are able to reinvest vital funds in this way.

“We’re really keen to work with the voluntary and community sector to ultimately achieve longer, safer and healthier lives for all.  I’d encourage anyone who has a great idea in the making or groups that just want to find out more to come along to our event in December.”

People must register their attendance for the event in advance and will be able to get support to develop their ideas during a series of drop-in sessions, which will take place from December through to January.

Groups will then be invited to pitch their project in full at an event in February / March next year, before a final decision is made on the allocation of funding.