YOUTH services in Taunton have been allocated a share of £50,000 after the town council considered applications for grant funding.

Youth work services will receive the grants for the next three years as the council uses a funding pot of £150,000 which is allocated as equal sums of £50,000 per year.

This is part of the Service Growth and Improvement Plan.

Presentations were also heard from both Stand Against Violence and In The Mix Project, with proposals to deliver workshops in connection with the Knife Angel Sculpture, visiting Taunton for the duration of April.

The committee resolved to grant £2,000 to Stand Against Violence to deliver a workshop looking at knife crime and weapons, and the impact on those who carry, use or are victims.

A town council spokesperson said: “Taunton Town Council is funded by residents. We ensure that the grants we make are used to assist community organisations located in Taunton and for the benefit of the local population.

“On Monday, February 4 2024, Taunton Town Council held an extraordinary meeting of the Grants Committee, chaired by Councillor Packer-Hughes, to consider 21 applications for Grant Funding.

“The funding pot totals £150,000, to be allocated as equal sums of £50,000 per year for the next three years, and forms part of our Service Growth and Improvement Plan.

“For this reason, applications were limited to the purpose of providing Youth services or facilities as resolved by Councillors at a meeting of the full council held on November 14, 2023.

“In addition to this, the committee considered two applications for funding to deliver workshops linked to the Knife Angel sculpture, coming to Taunton for the month of April.

“Each organisation was invited to give a presentation on how they would apply the funding.

“Councillors asked a number of probing questions to support what was a difficult decision-making process, given that applications to the value of £300,000 were sought.

“13 of the 19 organisations who applied for the three-year youth grants were successful in securing their application in whole or in part.

“In reviewing applications for the Youth Grants, consideration was given to other funding received, accessibility of the services provided to a wide range of users and whether the proposal could be better funded through an existing partner.”

Councillor Packer-Hughes said: “We are very fortunate to have a diverse range of youth services already doing a fantastic job across the town.

“The number of strong applications received confirms a clear need for this type of funding.

“Whilst this was undoubtedly our most challenging meeting to date, we are confident as a committee that we have enabled numerous organisations to meet an impressive range of different needs and reach a wide cross-section of beneficiaries.

“The feedback from the various groups is that having this three-year funding model provides them with the stability to make even more of a difference with relatively small pots of money, without the administrative burden of reapplying every twelve months.”

Presentations were also heard from both Stand Against Violence and In The Mix Project, with proposals to deliver workshops in connection with the Knife Angel Sculpture, visiting Taunton for the duration of April.

The Committee resolved to grant £2000 to Stand Against Violence to deliver a workshop looking at knife crime and weapons, and the impact on those who carry, use or are victims.

The next meeting of the Grants Committee will be held on Monday, April 8, 2024.

Full list of organisations receiving the grants

Stand Against Violence - £2000 to deliver a workshop looking at knife crime and weapons, and the impact on those who carry, use or are victims.

2BU - grant £12,000 (£4,000 per year for 3 years) to enable them to build on previous success and create a sustainable support system for LGBTQ+ young people.

Arts Taunton - £7,500 (£2,500 per year for 3 years) to allow them to action much longer-term plans creating the best possible opportunities for Taunton’s young people.

CHARIS Refugees - £15,000 (£5,000 per year for 3 years) for funding to support young people and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children living in Taunton.

Creative Innovation Centre CIC - £13,758 (£4,586 per year for 3 years to support the core costs of their existing provision at the CICCIC in Paul Street and the Arts Hub at Flook House, Station Road.

Fuse Performance and Somerset Outdoor Arts - £13,500 (£4,500 per year for 3 years to fund the continuation of the annual programme of youth creative hubs - Streetlinkz.

Girlguiding Taunton Division - to grant £4,500 (£1,500 per year for 3 years) to enable groups to undertake a wider range of activities, help with running costs, training volunteers and support the running of the Scout and Guide centre in Taunton.
The grant money is to be ring-fenced for subscriptions for girls and volunteers.

Go Create Taunton - to grant £15,000 (£5,000 per year for 3 years) to pilot and deliver a series of art-based mental health support sessions that will be free for users, working closely with local schools and colleges, NHS Foundation House, and Mind in Somerset.

In the Mix Project - to grant £7,500 (£2,500 per year for 3 years to provide practical education and training experiences to vulnerable and disaffected young people struggling in mainstream education.

North Taunton Partnership - £7,500 (£2,500 per year for 3 years) to secure the next 3 years of their summer youth activity project, and to give them the base to gain further funding from other sources to grow the project.

Somerset Youth Theatre - £13,500 (£4,500 per year for 3 years to enable the delivery of an accessible, inclusive, visionary programme of alternative arts provision - building confidence and emotional resilience by developing technical skills in the performing arts by targeting the provision for young people, identified through Taunton Secondary/Special schools who are vulnerable, have complex needs and have little or no engagement with school)

State of Trust - £13,500 (£4,500 per year for 3 years) for the delivery of an ongoing programme of their Create Chat Eat work and enable them to use the grant as matched funding to expand their offer.

The Sound of the Streets - £6,000 (£2,000 per year for 3 years) to inspire, enable and support young people to make music and to create a street drumming project to further this.
The project will provide taster sessions for young people, create young bands, train young leaders, and create resources.

Tone Community Media Group - £6,000 (£2,000 per year for 3 years) towards the running of the Bronze Arts Award in Broadcasting and Content Creation for the next three years.
Beginning this year, and completing in 2026, 30 students will be able to gain a Bronze Art Award.

Young Somerset - £14,742 (£4,914 per year for 3 years) to fully support interns and apprentices with career guidance, job interview preparation, setting up of initial meetings with local employers wishing to recruit local young people for vacancies, accompany young people to interviews with employers or local colleges if further qualifications are required to achieve employment.