For the second year running, West Yorkshire Prepared, the region’s Local Resilience Forum, will be offering funds to communities to enable them to better prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies and major incidents.

The Community Grant Initiative, which was launched last year, aims to help communities across West Yorkshire increase their resilience and preparedness, ensuring they are ready should a major incident occur. In the first year of the initiative over 20 organisations received funding ranging from £130 to £5000.

Successful projects included bids for search and rescue equipment for Mountain Rescue teams, first aid training for community groups, and funding to develop natural flood defences. A large number of requests for defibrillator units were also received and, working with Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Wel Medical, West Yorkshire Prepared supplied 13 units for communities across West Yorkshire, as well as providing funds for a solar-powered defibrillator for Wakefield Scouts.

The Theatre Royal in Wakefield was one of the recipients of a defibrillator unit, along with funding for first aid training for staff and volunteers.

Any community or voluntary group can apply, with applications particularly welcomed from groups working in more deprived communities or areas where there are clear and present risks.

For full details on the entry criteria, or to download an application form, visit www.westyorkshireprepared.org.uk/community-grant. The closing date for applications is 31^st December 2022.

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