A COMMUNITY resilience fund has been launched for Wrexham and surrounding areas.

The 3 Counties Connected Community Rail Partnership, has announced the launch of its’ Community Resilience Fund, a one-off grant scheme to support communities along the rail line, funding social inclusion and behaviour change projects, that link to healthy wellbeing activities and where possible encourage the use of public transport.

The 3 Counties Connected rail line runs along the border counties of Cheshire, Shropshire and Wrexham and connects the following stations – Crewe, Chester, Wrexham Central, Ruabon, Chirk, Gobowen, Shrewsbury, Yorton, Wem, Prees, Whitchurch, Wrenbury, and Nantwich.

Community organisations, charities, and community interest companies, within five miles of the 3 Counties Connected railway stations (or who can prove that the funded project they deliver would benefit a community that is) are invited to apply for the funding.

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Awards will be made to the best projects targeting social inclusion and fostering behaviour change, that link to healthy well-being activities and where possible encourage the use of public transport.

Ten £2,000 pots of funding are up for grabs with all applications to be submitted by November 29, 2023. Grants will be awarded in early December 2023 and all projects must be completed by March 31, 2024.

Josie Rayworth, 3 Counties Connected Rail Officer said: “We are very excited to be launching our new Community Resilience fund that can be used to support grassroots projects that reduce social isolation and improve health and wellbeing within the local community.

“This grant can fund new or existing activities that meet the objectives of the scheme and can support both project costs and running costs.

“I am happy to take questions from local groups who wish to apply and would ask people to look at our website for more information”

The application form and further details about the fund can be downloaded from the 3 Counties Connected Website.