Opportunity Goole’s Flexible Grant Scheme will close to new applications on Friday 18 July, after the team received an overwhelming response to its recent appeal for local individuals and businesses to seize the opportunity to apply for a share of the funding.

One of eight projects funded by Goole Town Deal to help boost the local economy, Opportunity Goole established a Flexible Grant Scheme to plug a gap in existing funding provision by providing financial support to individuals and businesses that are not currently eligible for other forms of funding.

With delivery of the Goole Town Deal programme now at advanced stage, the scheme was due to close to applications later this year so, last month, the team urged local people to submit their applications as soon as possible, rather than risk missing out. 

This resulted in a wave of new applications being submitted, prompting the team to bring the closing date forward to 18 July. All of the applications received before the closing date will be considered at the same time to ensure that every applicant has an equal opportunity, and that sufficient funding is available for all those that meet the criteria. The team has already been in touch with everyone who is believed to be in the process of submitting an application, offering them a priority appointment with one of its advisors so that they can meet the new deadline.

By 19 June, almost £185,000 in grant funding had already been shared between 42 different projects, submitted by a broad cross-section of local businesses and individuals. To be eligible for a grant, applicants have to demonstrate that they will use the funding to help to boost the local economy, either by giving people access to training and job opportunities or helping businesses to grow.

Phil Jones, Chair of the Goole Town Deal Board, said: “Opportunity Goole has been hugely successful, and the response to the team’s recent appeal for people to get their grant applications in as soon as possible to avoid missing out generated a significant number of new submissions. The case studies about successful applicants, which we’ve shared in the local media, and on the Goole Town Deal website and social media channels, have evidently inspired others to submit applications of their own.

“Following the closure of the fund on 18 July, all completed applications will be sent for review by the Flexible Grant Scheme panel at the same time, to ensure that every application is given fair consideration.”

• Prospective applicants who are still working on their grant funding bids MUST submit them by 5pm on Friday 18 July. For more information, email the Opportunity Goole team at: opportunity.goole@eastriding.gov.uk or visit them at Goole Library.