Home

Community groups, charities, schools, local organisations and residents with ideas to improve their neighbourhoods are being invited to attend a series of free grant clinics designed to help them access Stroud District Council funding for local projects.

Stroud District Council (SDC) is hosting two drop-in events this September, giving people the opportunity to book one-to-one sessions with grant officers and receive tailored advice on developing project ideas and preparing funding applications.

The clinics are aimed at anyone considering applying for an SDC grant, as well as those who may have applied unsuccessfully in the past and would like guidance on how to strengthen a future application.

Representatives from a range of council funding programmes will be available to discuss projects, explain eligibility criteria and share advice on what makes a successful application.

The council hopes the sessions will encourage more people to come forward with ideas that could benefit local communities and help make the grant application process as easy as possible. 

Whether attendees have never applied for a council grant before, or have been unsuccessful in the past, the clinics are designed to provide practical advice, build confidence and give projects the best possible chance of success. 

People attending will be able to pre-book a free 20-minute appointment with the grant team they are most interested in speaking to. During registration, attendees can also indicate if they would like to speak with additional grant teams, and organisers will do their best to accommodate those requests.

The Joint Grants Clinics will take place on:

·       Wednesday 23 September, 10am to 2pm at The Rest Café, Court Farm, Broad Street, Kings Stanley, GL10 3PN. Book here: SDC Grants Clinic Drop-In Tickets, Wednesday, September 23  •  10 AM - 2 PM | Eventbrite

·       Thursday 24 September, 5pm to 7pm, The Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud, GL5 1AE. Book here: SDC Grants Clinic Drop-In Tickets, Thursday, September 24  •  5 PM - 7 PM | Eventbrite

Angela Gillingham, Stroud District Council’s Head of Community Services said:

"We know there are fantastic ideas out there that could make a real difference to communities across the district, but applying for funding can sometimes feel daunting. These grant clinics are an opportunity for people to talk through their ideas, ask questions and get practical advice from the teams who administer our funding programmes."

"Whether you've never applied for a grant before, you're developing a project and need some guidance, or you've had an application turned down in the past, we'd encourage you to come along and find out how we can help."

Grant programmes attending (subject to confirmation)

Culture Fund - This team will not be present at this event, but you can contact the team and find out more by following this link - Culture grants 2026

Walking and Cycling Fund - A fund which aims to remove barriers and encourage more people to choose walking and cycling as an alternative to the private car. Most of this funding goes towards larger strategic projects, but there is a small amount available for local projects that increase active travel.

Small Grants Programme - A flexible grants programme supporting local voluntary, community, and not-for-profit organisations to deliver projects that benefit residents and strengthen communities. Funding can help groups develop activities, services, events, and community initiatives that address local needs. Up to £1000 can be given by Stroud District Council, find out more information - Community Grants

Stroud Funding - Stroud Funding is a programme where community ideas can come to life through crowdfunding, with local people donating to projects they want to support. If your project meets the eligibility criteria, it could receive up to £10,000 in match funding from Stroud District Council, capped at 50% of your crowdfunding target. For example, a project with a funding target of £3,000 could receive up to £1,500 from Stroud District Council. There are two rounds per year, one in Spring and one in Autumn. Find out more information - Stroud Funding - Home – Spacehive

Schools and Churchyards fund - This team will not be present at this event, but you can contact the team and find out more by following this link - Supporting you

Please note, places are limited and advance booking is required.

Residents across Stroud district are being encouraged to make a few simple changes to help waste and recycling crews collect more recycling, more efficiently, as part of Recycle Week 2026.

Throughout the week, Stroud District Council will be sharing practical recycling tips based on feedback from collection crews, highlighting small actions that can make a big difference on collection day.

The campaign focuses on three key messages:

1.     Flatten large cardboard boxes to roughly the size of your recycling box before putting them out for collection.

2.     Place recycling loose in recycling boxes, bins and bags rather than inside plastic bags.

3.     Recycle batteries and vapes safely from home using the council's kerbside collection service.

Large cardboard boxes can quickly fill collection vehicles, meaning crews may need to leave their rounds to empty vehicles more frequently. Flattening cardboard helps maximise space, allowing more recycling to be collected before vehicles need to return to the depot.

Residents are also being reminded that batteries and vapes should never be placed in household refuse or recycling bins. Incorrect disposal can cause fires in collection vehicles and waste facilities, putting crews and equipment at risk.

As part of the council's kerbside service, residents can recycle up to 10 household batteries and five vapes each week. Batteries should be placed in one clear bag and vapes in a separate clear bag, then left on top of the food waste bin lid on collection day.

Keeping recycling loose rather than bundled in plastic bags also helps collection crews identify materials more easily, reducing contamination and helping more materials to be successfully recycled.

Angela Gillingham, Head of Community Services at Stroud District Council, said:

"Our crews work hard every day to collect recycling from thousands of households across the district, and there are a few simple things residents can do that really help.

"Flattening large cardboard boxes, keeping recycling loose and recycling batteries and vapes separately only take a moment, but together these small actions help collections run more smoothly, improve safety and ensure we can recycle as much material as possible.

"Recycle Week is a great opportunity to remind residents that many of us are already doing the right thing. By making a few small improvements to how we present our recycling, we can all help Stroud district recycle more and waste less."

Residents who regularly have more cardboard or paper recycling than will fit in their containers can collect additional recycling boxes free of charge from the council offices at Ebley Mill during opening hours, or arrange for boxes to be delivered to their home for a small charge.

To stay up to date with service changes, collection information and recycling tips throughout the year, people can also sign up for the council’s waste and recycling newsletter 

• Order a new recycling container: www.stroud.gov.uk/orderbin
• Find out about battery recycling: www.stroud.gov.uk/batteries
• Find out about vape recycling: www.stroud.gov.uk/vapes

For social media updates follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

This week brings updates on recycling, local democracy, heritage attractions and opportunities to get involved in your community.

There is no new update on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). We will continue to deliver council services as usual and will keep residents informed of any significant developments. For the latest information about LGR in Gloucestershire, visit: https://futuregloucestershire.org.uk/

It's Recycle Week and a chance to celebrate the great work our recycling crews do every day, collecting from thousands of households across the district. There are also a few simple things residents can do to help, including flattening large cardboard boxes and folding or cutting them down to roughly the size of a recycling box, placing recycling loose rather than in plastic bags, and making use of our weekly battery and vape recycling collection service. We'll be sharing tips every day on our social media channels to help residents get the most from their recycling service.

As we mark the International Day of Democracy on 15 September, we're also preparing for the Rodborough District Ward by-election on Tuesday 13 October 2026. Anyone considering standing as a candidate should note that nominations close at 4pm on Wednesday 16 September. Nomination papers must be delivered by hand to Ebley Mill between 10am and 4pm before the deadline. For nomination papers, enquiries and appointment bookings, visit www.stroud.gov.uk/elections.

Anyone interested in working at future elections is invited to visit our mock polling station at Ebley Mill on Tuesday 22 September from 4pm to 6pm to find out more about polling station roles ahead of the 2027 Gloucestershire Council elections.

There is also plenty to explore as part of Heritage Open Days, with free entry to a range of attractions across the district including Woodchester Mansion, Newark Park and Gigg Mill and Dunkirk Mill. Find out more at: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/

Finally, don't forget that Stratford Park Lido remains open until 30 September, weather permitting. The water is still pleasant and there's now a small on-site café serving warming drinks. 

If you'd like to stay informed about local news, events, and activities, now is a great time to subscribe - www.stroud.gov.uk/emailalerts.