MORE cash is being made available for arts and cultural sector in Thurrock – but it is to be hoped it is more successful than another borough council scheme launched earlier this year.

This week the authority has announced a new £25,000 grant programme which it says is aimed at supporting projects that use arts and culture to "help build strong and well-connected communities has opened for expressions of interest".

Funded by Thurrock Council, the Voluntary Sector Development Fund (VSDF) will enable local artists and arts organisations to bid for up to £4,000 to support arts and cultural projects in Thurrock.

The VSDF will be administered by Thurrock CVS and the deadline to submit an expression of interest is Sunday, 19 January 2020. Submissions will then be shortlisted at a public event and successful applicants will be invited to submit a full application. Applicants are required to match fund to the equivalent of 10 per cent of the total sum awarded - this can be in kind, such as volunteer time or use of a venue.

Cllr Deborah Huelin, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: "This fund will make a huge difference in Thurrock. Our ambition is to encourage arts and cultural activity that engages and helps strengthen our communities, drives local growth, and reinforces culture's role at the heart of communities.

"We want to enable all Thurrock residents to enjoy and benefit from high quality arts and heritage activity, creating a strong pride in place, better well-being and economic prosperity."

Kristina Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of Thurrock CVS, said: "We are pleased to administer this new initiative supporting arts and creativity in Thurrock, we look forward to some interesting applications that showcase how creativity can strengthen communities and improve an individual's health and wellbeing".

For more information visit thurrockcvs.org/grant-applications/

The new scheme comes ten months after the council took the lead in administering and promoting another initiative, which it said could pump £5.1 million into regional creative, cultural and digital sectors.

The South East Creative, Cultural and Digital Programme (SECCADS) was led by Thurrock Council, which appointed officers to manage the project which runs across Essex, Kent and East Sussex.

At the launch, Thurrock Council said: "Between now and December 2020, it aims to help more than 370 companies and sole-traders. It offers business support or match-funded grants of up to £20,000.

"Grants can be used to fund both capital and revenue projects, including equipment, plant and machinery costs, salary costs towards a new role, supporting initial rent for new premises, funding the cost of purchasing patents, IT software and much more."

Recently Thurrock NubNews contacted the council to see how the scheme was progressing.

Rather than help 370 companies, it appears just a handful have benefited – and only three in Thurrock have had some measure of support.

A statement from the council says: "Across the region the scheme has awarded 49 grants with one of those being to a Thurrock-based organisation; it has received 606 enquiries, six from Thurrock, and provided non-financial support to two Thurrock businesses and 17 across the entire region.

The council has declined to give details of what grants have been handed out – and who to. It is has not been disclosed what the scheme has cost to administer or how many officers are employed on it.