Lichfield District Council is offering business start-up grants of £3,000 to local residents who have been made redundant or are out of work, and planning to start a business over the next year.

In total the council has set aside £200,000 from the Additional Restrictions Grant funding it received from the Government, to invest in new local businesses. 

The grants, which will not need to be match-funded, can be spent on: 

·         Business equipment, excluding laptops, mobile phones and tablets

·         Marketing

·         Professional qualifications or training

To be considered for support, prospective applicants must first go on a start-up masterclass workshop provided by Enterprise for Success before applying for a grant. This two-day interactive session will be a useful way to get expert advice to help create a sound business plan.

The four applications rounds are:

·         28 May 2021

·         27 August 2021

·         26 November 2021

·         28 January 2022

The scheme will run until January 2022, or when all the funding has been allocated.

For the criteria and to find out how to apply, visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/startupgrants.

Lichfield District Start Up Grant Scheme: Offering a one-off grant of £3,000 for residents who have been made redundant or currently economically inactive and seeking to start up a business within the financial year 21/22. - https://www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/business-advice/lichfield-district-start-grant-scheme/1

Staffordshire Means Back to Business Support Scheme

Staffordshire County Council and Staffordshire local authorities have partnered up and pooled resources to offer new sources of support to help new businesses to get off the ground, support young people into employment and the costs of upskilling and training new employees.

The separate initiatives and how businesses can apply

Small Business to Thrive Financial Support: Grants of between £2,000 to £5,000 will be available to cover additional expenditure for essential businesses staying open during the pandemic and those with a plan to recover and get back to growth. - To Thrive Business Grant Scheme - Staffordshire County Council

Start Up Scheme and Loan: Loans of between £3k to £5k being offered to people who have first completed the acclaimed Staffordshire Start-up online course to support resilient business start-ups. - Support for start-up businesses - Staffordshire County Council

Apprenticeship 500: Provide £5,000 incentive to SMEs in Staffordshire to employ a local 16-24 year old unemployed young person in an apprenticeship. - https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Business/Coronavirus-COVID-19-support-for-businesses/Staffordshire-Apprenticeship-500-Grant-Scheme/Staffordshire-Apprenticeship-500-Business-Grant-Scheme.aspx

Free Training Top Up: Grants of up to £5,000 to top-up training or up-skilling costs for employees. - Free Training Top Up for Employers - Staffordshire County Council

Ignite Top Up Scheme: Additional support to students to take their first steps in their own business. - Students Ignite their entrepreneurship with county start-up programme - Staffordshire County Council Newsroom

Free 12 month FSB membership: Businesses with one to four employees can benefit from 12 months’ free business support to guide them through the pandemic recovery. Essential advice and guidance on areas such legal and tax issues, employment legislation, health and safety advice, cyber protection and insurance is available through a free 12-month membership package with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).- https://www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/news/article/430/micro-businesses-can-benefit-from-free-expert-advice-thanks-to-unique-partnership-with-leading-national-support-body

Lichfield District Council would like as many people as possible to let them know their views about parking in Lichfield.

Please click here for details.

The Parish Council has held a site visit with representatives of Elan Homes to establish a means of communication with the developers of the land off The Shrubbery. This was very informative and positive. Residents with any queries about the development work should contact clerk@elfordparish.co.uk who will contact Elan Homes for a response on their behalf.

For notes on the meeting click here

Concerns were again raised by a resident about the effect of water from the development site on Eddies Lane. Cllr Turley confirmed that a meeting would be held between the developers and the Parish Council to discuss the drainage and other matters, and particularly to establish a means of contact so that the Parish Council could raise any concerns with Elan Homes.

Dave Hill presented an evaluation of the Flood Report, which addressed how the Flood Wardens would operate now that an improved pumping station was in use, and proposed how the village could assist with the welfare of Environment Agency staff who attended to monitor the pump often for long hours in difficult conditions.

Brickhouse Lane was still suffering from potholes and this would continue to be reported to Staffordshire Highways.

The Right of Way at The Green had been blocked off, Cllrs would arrange a meeting to discuss this with the householder responsible, the Rights of Way team at Staffordshire County Council would be likely to take action.

The village now had an impressive book swap facility in the former kiosk in Church Road, which had been finished to coincide with the World Book Day event when the children had enjoyed spotting books in windows around the village.

Please see the Minutes on http://elfordparish.co.uk/index.php/parish-council/minutes

Funding for community and voluntary sector organisations

Charities, groups and not-for-profit organisations that work to help the people of Lichfield District are being invited to apply for funding.

Lichfield District Council has £163,000 available each year, over the next three years, to award to community and voluntary sector organisations that can deliver projects to make a difference.  

From supporting older people to live in their homes to working to look after the local environment, the grants will help communities across Lichfield District.

Applicants must show how their project will support one or more of the council’s strategic objectives, which are:

·        Enabling people to help themselves and others

·        Enabling people to collaborate and engage with Lichfield District Council

·        Enabling people to live healthy and active lives

·        Shaping place to keep it green and safe

·        Shaping place to preserve the character and appearance of the district

The minimum amount that can be applied for is £5,000 a year over three years, subject to the funds being available. The grants do not need to be match-funded.

Councillor Ashley Yeates, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, said: “We are so lucky to have a strong, vibrant and diverse community and voluntary sector, which plays a key role in supporting our residents and local communities. These organisations can reach people and places where statutory organisations may struggle, delivering earlier support that is tailored to the individual.

“This is why we are delighted to be offering this funding. I am sure it will be a welcome boost to groups that are finding it hard to fundraise due to the coronavirus pandemic. It will mean a whole raft of projects and activities can be run over the next three years that will have a big impact on our local communities.”

Grants are available to formally constituted not-for-profit groups that serve Lichfield District, including local parish councils, public sector organisations, and locally based community enterprises and charities.

To find out more and for an application pack, visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/cvsfunding. The deadline to apply is 29 April 2021.

Lichfield Community Lottery tickets go on sale !

From 2 March 2021 tickets will be available online for Lichfield Community Lottery, which offer the chance to win a £25,000 jackpot and help local good causes.

Lichfield Community Lottery is a weekly lottery that will raise money for good causes across Lichfield District.

The first draw takes place on Saturday 10 April, with 60p from every £1 ticket going to local charities, clubs and voluntary organisations.

So far 28 local good causes have signed up to be a part of Lichfield Community Lottery. It is free for them to register and more are encouraged to sign up in time for the first draw in April.

Players will have a 1 in 50 chance of winning one of the prizes, which range from the £25,000 jackpot to three extra tickets. And, for the first draw a Mercia Food Hub luxury hamper worth more than £200 will be won by one lucky player!

Councillor Ashley Yeates, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, said:"Lichfield Community Lottery is an innovative way to support local charity and voluntary organisations, and we hope lots of people will get involved by subscribing to play. It offers a fun way to support good causes that you care about and to be in with a chance to win a prize.”

To buy your tickets (from Tuesday 2 March) or register as a good cause visit www.lichfieldcommunitylottery.co.uk.

Reminder of rules around outdoor facilities 

Fencing has gone up at two sport and leisure facilities in Lichfield District to stop anyone from using them and breaching national restrictions.

Lichfield District Council is joining forces with Staffordshire Police to warn local residents about how important it is to follow national restrictions around exercising and meeting others outdoors.

This comes after reports of groups gaining entry to Burntwood Leisure Centre’s 3G synthetic pitch and of people using Beacon Park’s skatepark, despite both areas being closed due to lockdown.

The council has now installed temporary fencing round these facilities to further deter people from trying to gain entry, and the police are reminding everyone of the laws around lockdown and of their enforcement powers.

Councillor Ashley Yeates, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, said:“We know how frustrating lockdown restrictions are, and we’re all looking forward to when our sport and leisure facilities can reopen. However, it’s really important that we all follow the rules to protect our families, friends and wider community.

“You can continue to access our open spaces to exercise alone, with one other person or with your household or support bubble. This should be limited to once a day and you should maintain social distancing.”

Staffordshire Police’s Sergeant Neil Quinn, of the Lichfield Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:“I would like to thank the people of Lichfield District for continuing to do their very best to stick to the rules to protect themselves and others from this devastating virus that continues to take lives.

“It is unfortunate that the message is still not getting through to some individuals who continue to bend and even break the rules despite the ongoing seriousness of the situation across the district.

“Officers are continuing to carry out patrols to engage, encourage and explain the rules to anyone we feel is pushing the boundaries, and we will enforce these where necessary for people who continually refuse to adhere to restrictions.”

To find out more about what you can and can’t do during lockdown, go to www.gov.uk/coronavirus.