Applications open for university’s 2025 community fund

The University of Derby has announced that a fund created to support local groups, organisations and individuals in Derby and Derbyshire has reopened following a successful debut.

The Civic Community Fund provided seed funding to five organisations in 2024.

They were music and arts development group Baby People, inclusive arts project SocialFuse Festival, children’s mental wellbeing CIC Bridge The Gap, Hands on Skin – an initiative which looks at exploring identity and cultural heritage through drum rhythms – and a project that co-creates poetry around nature connectedness and the Whispers From The Woods poetry book.

As well as receiving a grant from the University of Derby, successful applicants were also invited to work closely with researchers and other experts at the university to profile and share their work within the wider civic community.

The university is now inviting applications from anyone based in the city or county who is seeking seed funding for projects that will bring impact to the local area and community and would like to work in partnership with the University to bring their ideas to life.

The Civic Community Fund is designed to support the work of the university’s Civic University Agreement, which was launched in June 2022, by creating new partnerships locally and providing support to civic projects that will have a positive impact within the community.

Although the fund is a relatively new initiative, the university has supported local community projects for decades, providing funding to inspiring groups across Derbyshire who make a real difference to people’s lives.

Dr Rhiannon Jones, associate professor of civic practice and head of civic and communities at the University of Derby, said: “The University of Derby is proud to be a civic organisation that is committed to playing its part in the city and county’s ongoing prosperity and wellbeing, supporting local communities and the people within them, working closely with our stakeholders and partners to deliver our Civic University Agreement.

“The Civic Community Fund has been a hugely successful initiative, and we are looking forward to receiving applications for 2025.

“The fund is a fantastic way of enabling us to provide bespoke support for local groups and individuals whose endeavours would benefit from the support the university can offer.

“We are looking for people who want to partner with us in the longer term, to work with our experts to develop their brilliant projects and make a real impact in the local area.”

Applications for the Civic Community Fund should be made via the university’s website before January 31. Applicants will be notified of funding application outcomes by February 14.

To apply visit https://app.geckoform.com/public/#/modern/21FO00ses8e1ti003wt1tsafam.