South East
Pub is the Hub Adviser – Anthony Miller
Pub is the Hub has been working in the South East for over 5 years, and grant programmes are available to support the development of pub-based community facilities in the following areas:
Hampshire
In Hampshire, the Village Community Grant scheme has been set up to provide better services locally for rural people and to improve access to essential services not available locally. Rural pubs are eligible and the fund can support the creation of new community-led village stores. The scheme can also fund pub-based projects to provide new retail services such as local food counters, tea-room, internet café, etc. Also, initiatives to sustain existing services, e.g. setting up a delivery service or using a community minibus to bring customers in from neighbouring settlements. Projects supporting creative location of essential services in pubs are also eligible. Grants of up to a maximum of £20,000 are available but only one grant will be awarded to each village community within any one financial year and match funding is not essential. Rural pubs applying must have the written support of the relevant parish council. The fund is targeted primarily to communities with populations of less than 5,000 and independent retailers/commercial enterprises need to be the sole shop in a settlement to be eligible. For more information and to ask any questions about this grant scheme contact Frances Stokes at Hampshire County Council on 01962 845767 or Joanna Dixon at Community Action Hampshire on 01962 854971