Community groups in Cheltenham can apply for a share of £30,000 to celebrate the King's Coronation

To help locals commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III this May 2023, Cheltenham Borough Council is making £30,000 of funding available to support the town's celebrations. 

From Monday 20 March 2023, community groups in Cheltenham can apply for a share of the money for projects, activities and events which support the celebrations on Saturday 6 May 2023 and create a legacy to mark the event for future generations. 

The Coronation has three overarching themes of inclusion, young people and biodiversity, with the council encouraging applications that meet at least one of its own three themes: bringing people together, connecting people to foster new relationships and celebrating diverse communities; helping to improve the biodiversity of Cheltenham's green spaces and natural environment; and making Cheltenham a place where children and young people have the opportunity to thrive.

There are two funds available, the Our Coronation Community Fund, designed to support longer-term projects that help the town commemorate the Coronation, with grants of up to £3,000 available on a match-funded basis; and the Our Community Building - Coronation Fund, supporting smaller-scale projects, events and activities to help the town celebrate, with grants of up to £300 available. 

Councillor Peter Jeffries, cabinet member for finance and assets, said: 'We’re really excited to be launching this fund to coincide with the Coronation of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen Consort. We would love local groups and organisations to get creative and think about what they can do to help us celebrate the Coronation and also create lasting memorials and positive change.'

Cabinet member for safety and communities, Councillor Flo Clucas, added: 'Saturday 6 May 2023 is going to be a special day as our new King and Queen Consort are crowned, so I am delighted that Cheltenham's Coronation Community Fund is now open.

'It is there to help the town celebrate, commemorate and come together. We are pleased to be able to support organisations in Cheltenham to be part of this very special borough-wide celebration in 2023 and to create a legacy for the future.'

Applications for funding are open until 11.59pm on Thursday 27 April 2023, with guidelines and an application form available on Cheltenham Borough Council's website.