HELPING THE VILLAGE
COMMUNITY GRANTS
Money raised by the Community Group is used to support local community projects, groups, functions and events. Over the past year (2024/25) we have given out over £12,000 in grants to support our community in Belford.
GRANTS ISSUED 2024-2025
| Bell View Men’s Shed | £50 | |
| Carpet Bowls Club | £300 | Equipment |
| Belford Primary School | £790 | Bamburgh Trip |
| Bell View | £1485 | Electrical supply, fridge and Christmas fair |
| Bell View | £3000 | Rural IT support |
| Belford Show | £2728 | Event expenses |
| Bell View | £3500 | Decoration |
| Belford Primary School | £635 | Special Trips |
| Total | £12488 |
Belford Community Group continues to support local community projects intending to allocate the largest proportion possible of its income after expenses.
If you have an event or project that needs some funding help, please apply to us for a grant. We support requests that fit with our charitable objectives and will give careful consideration to every one we receive. We will get back to you with a decision, usually within one month.
To apply, please download our application form, complete it and email it to belfordcommunitygroup@gmail.com
If your application is successful, we will ask you to complete a short monitoring form saying how the grant has made a difference.
PROJECTS WE SUPPORT
BELFORD PRIMARY SCHOOL
Belford Primary School children have benefited greatly from the support of the Community Group over the past few years.
The Community Group has enhanced the children’s learning significantly by providing funding to ensure that exciting trips and residentials continue to go ahead, despite the significant rise in costs of transport. One example of this was a whole school visit to Bamburgh Castle last summer. Without the financial support of the Community Group, this trip would have been a challenge for the school, due to the number of children involved and the cost of transport. The children had a wonderful day and learnt so much about our local history and the geology of the coastline.
The Community Group has also supported us with the running costs of our early morning breakfast club. Many children and families benefit from the availability of a flexible breakfast club and it is an important element of our school provision.
We are extremely grateful to the Belford Community Group. Their support is invaluable.
Lorna Rainey
Headteacher of Belford Primary School
BELL VIEW
Powering Community Resilience: A Partnership That Makes a Difference
We are incredibly grateful to Belford Community Group for the outstanding support shown to Bell View, which has enabled us to strengthen and expand our vital community services across North Northumberland between 2022 and 2025. Their strategic funding has directly enhanced our ability to serve everyone in our community during both everyday needs and times of crisis.
In August 2022, their generous contribution towards our emergency generator transformed Bell View into a true community refuge, enabling us to remain a warm, safe haven where neighbours can shelter together, charge devices, and access hot food and beverages. This investment in resilience means no one should face power outages alone again.
In December 2024, we were very grateful for funding towards additional Christmas lights and funding for visiting alpacas at the Christmas Fair. This partnership enabled us to provide a joyful, family-friendly celebration that brought our community together.
Additionally, BCG’s funding for essential infrastructure in the same month – towards extending our electricity supply and storage facilities – has transformed our food distribution. We can now efficiently collect and redistribute surplus food from supermarkets, reducing waste, promoting environmental sustainability and mitigating against food insecurity.
More recently, funding provided in early 2025 has enabled us to:-
- Continue to provide IT support to the community, enabling people to continue to engage with online services and stay connected with family and friends.
- Redecorate dilapidated walls, creating a welcoming space that reflects the quality care we provide.
Through BCG’s partnership, we’ve strengthened community resilience, enhanced food security, improved digital inclusion, and created spaces where everyone feels welcome. Their investment doesn’t just fund projects – it builds hope, connection, and sustainable support systems that benefit our community.
Juliet Short, Head of Operations, Bell View
JUBILEE WOODLAND AND COMMUNITY WOODLAND
In 2009, Brian Rogers the group leader, became Belford’s ‘Environmental Champion’, working closely with the council on green matters. As a result, the overgrown area south of Croft Field was cleared of dense blackthorn, bramble and dead trees. All local societies and clubs bought a native tree and planted them in 2012. One of the group suggested it become a ‘Diamond Jubilee Woodland’ and so it was named and registered.
Since 2019 the group work under Belford Community Group, who provide insurance for volunteers, whilst still reporting to NCC Green Spaces Team.
The two woodlands complement each other, the ‘Community Woodland’, more wild and natural, the ‘Jubilee Woodland’, a partly formal garden, now with a beautiful rose arch commemorating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Both enjoy the burn running through them and seating for people to enjoy nature. There are many bird boxes, different habitats for wildlife, and a wildflower meadow. The group recently planted a new hedge alongside Croft Field and upgraded the path from the Doctors to the High Street, with help from Clark’s builders.
In spring the snowdrops create a beautiful display, followed by daffodils, primroses, wild garlic and bluebells. Summer sees many perennial plants and the wildflower meadow, great for insects and butterflies.
The group meet on the first Saturday of each month 10:00 to 12:00, to carry out the many tasks to keep both areas looking beautiful.
New people are always made welcome, just turn up and help make a difference.
COMMUNITY MARKETS
Community markets are held in the Market Square during the summer months, and at Bell View at Christmas. There is a wide range of stalls, featuring local produce, local charities, refreshments and local arts and crafts. It’s a fun, sociable event.
BEFORD VILLAGE SHOW
The Community Group continues to provide support to the Belford Village Show Committee, to enable them to put on a super amenity that has been a part of the Village’s history for over 100 years.
Belford Community Group 