Voluntary organisations are being urged to apply for a grant to help them provide free after-school clubs and play schemes for Sandwell children. The council is looking for not-for-profit groups to run sessions across Sandwell for children aged between six and 12, and for up to 16-year-olds with additional needs. The Local Play Services Play Grant, which is worth a minimum of £40,000 a year for each of Sandwell’s six towns, will fund independent projects between April 2017 and March 2020.
 
The grant, which is only available to voluntary and community groups, will fund organisations to provide three two-and-a-half hour sessions in term time each week, and three five hour sessions a week during school holidays.
 
The play sessions would be free for children to attend.
 
Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for children’s services Councillor Simon Hackett said: “This is an opportunity for community organisations to come forward and apply for funding to run some really great activities for our young people.
 
“After-school clubs and holiday play schemes are really valuable places for many children and their parents, and we want to see some good ideas coming through from groups keen to get some funding.”
 
The closing date for applications is Monday 28 November at noon. Applications received after this deadline will not be processed.