Young people and community groups in Nottingham will get extra support thanks to funding from the Mayor of the East Midlands.
Mayor Claire Ward has awarded £270,223 to The Bestwood Partnership for BEST Steps Forward from her £3 million Community Development Fund, alongside £291,129 to The Renewal Trust for Dales Doing It Together.
BEST Steps Forward will provide tailored employability support for people in Bestwood, as well as welfare and benefits advice, and mentoring for young people aged 10-plus, while Dales Doing It Together will offer targeted community grants to ensure funding “responds directly to local needs”.
Bestwood and Dales are two of 10 neighbourhoods across the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) area chosen for investment after being identified as facing high levels of disadvantage and having fewer local community and voluntary organisations than other areas.
Mayor Claire said: “I’m thrilled to see this funding reach the heart of communities like Bestwood and the Dales. Local people know their neighbourhoods best, and these projects show what can be achieved when we back their ideas.
“From supporting young people to strengthening community connections, this investment will help residents shape a brighter future for themselves and their neighbourhoods.”
“By supporting community-led projects like these, we’re building stronger, healthier neighbourhoods, boosting pride in place and ensuring everyone across our region has the chance to share in its future.”
Community-led schemes in the key areas have now each been awarded up to £300,000 to support projects designed to build skills, strengthen resilience and help residents shape the future of their own neighbourhoods.
As well as employment and benefits support, BEST Step Forward will provide weekly open-access youth sessions for young people aged 10 to 16 “to build confidence, resilience, and early life skills”.
Donna Denning, The Bestwood Partnership manager, said: “We are delighted to receive this funding for the BEST Step Forward project, which will make a real and lasting difference for the community of Bestwood. This investment enables us to strengthen local opportunities, support residents, and deliver positive change where it is most needed.”
In its application, the partnership said: “The Bestwood area faces long-standing social and economic challenges. It is among the most deprived communities in Nottingham, marked by high unemployment, low educational attainment, and persistent health inequalities. Many residents experience financial hardship, poor mental health, and limited access to opportunities that support personal development or long-term stability.”
BEST Step Forward will deliver almost 200 hours of youth sessions a year, alongside 250 hours of targeted one-to-one mentoring and coaching to up to 30 young people. The project will also fund a welfare and financial inclusion worker and an employability and skills navigator “to enhance family and community impact”.
Dales Doing It Together aims to turn the Dales “into the community residents want – connected, creative, cleaner, safer and full of opportunity”.
Partners will apply to The Renewal Trust for targeted grants, with the trust saying: “Some grants will create visible, area-wide impact by improving shared spaces, strengthening cohesion and promoting local culture.”
Cherry Wells, The Renewal Trust chief executive officer, said: “This funding is a fantastic boost for the Dales ward. As the lead organisation, The Renewal Trust is proud to support residents and organisations in shaping the projects that matter to them and turning community priorities into real, positive change.”
Its application said: “Our recent community consultation highlighted that many residents are experiencing poor housing, unsafe streets and declining local services. Families described private rentals as ‘slum-like’, with overcrowded HMOs replacing long-term homes.”
Dales Doing It Together will set up a panel involving residents to oversee how funding is allocated, with an aim of reaching 7,000 people. Highlights include Sneinton Festival plus five other major community activities and events, a new communications platform and a structured youth engagement pathway, linking early-years playgroups, youth clubs, outreach, sports and volunteering opportunities.
The work aims to improve community cohesion and belonging, promote youth development and develop a cleaner, safer and healthier local environment.
For further information about awards to other areas of the East Midlands, see https://shorturl.at/IlLUX
Published on: 19 March 2026
Categories: News, Economic Development