The organisers of a huge music festival in Heaton Park is inviting groups in three Bury areas to apply for community grants. 

The Parklife Community Fund, run by the organisers of the festival, which takes place on June 8 and 9, is again asking community groups in the Sedgley, Holyrood and St Mary’s wards to apply for funding of up to £1,000 to support their work.

A total of £25,00 is available for the area.

The fund, run by Parklife, in cooperation with Manchester, Bury and Rochdale councils, is designed for the benefit of community groups and priority is given to groups and projects that benefit parks and open spaces and young people.

In addition for this year, while not essential, applicants are being asked to consider the cost of living crisis and whether their project can contribute to relieving the hardship.

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Funds are generated from contributions made at the festival by guest list attendees and through festival tickets being donated to various charities for raffles and auctions.

The Parklife 2023 Community Fund has generated £63,000 for community groups based around Heaton Park.

Prestwich Cllr Alan Quinn, the council’s cabinet member for the environment and climate change, said: “We have been working with Parklife and Manchester City Council since the inception of the concerts in Heaton Park, to minimise the disruption to Prestwich residents, and we will continue to do so.

“It’s important that local people also benefit from having these events on their doorstep. In 2016 I asked Parklife to set up a community fund, and this year the fund for Prestwich stands at £25,000.

“It gives local groups and charities in Prestwich the opportunity to bid this money and the maximum amount available for each project is £1,000.

“Since 2016 Prestwich has benefitted to the tune of nearly £165,000. During this cost of living crisis, this amount of money will make a real difference to our community groups.

“The grants will be awarded at an event in Prestwich towards the end of February.”

The deadline for Bury, Rochdale and microgrant applications to be received is Sunday, January 21.

Groups will be notified about the outcome by the end of February.

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Ben Turner, co-ordinator for the fund, added: “It’s always great hearing more about the range and breadth of activities and projects the Parklife Community Fund supports in and around Heaton Park and this year will be no exception.

“With the input of local councillors, and the enthusiasm of local groups and residents, it feels like the Fund is now established to support opportunities for all ages and all of us at Parklife look forward to it continuing to develop and grow into 2024 and beyond”.

Applications will go to a Prestwich councillor panel and should be made to Bury Council. The Phoenix Centre will receive £500 to host the Parklife Awards Evening.

To receive an application form, email communityfund@parklife.uk.com. The Micro Grants fund (up to £600) supports groups from the all the wards mentioned above across the three local authorities with £10,000 available.

For more information please visit https://www.parkliferesidents.org/community-fund or email communityfund@parklife.uk.com.