RESIDENTS in South Ham and Buckskin will be able to have their say on which community projects they want to give funding to tomorrow.

Between 11am and 3pm tomorrow, people of secondary school age or over, who live in South Ham and Buckskin, will be able to visit the Ridgeway Centre, in Buckskin or the Russell Howard Pavilion, in South Ham to vote for two projects put forward for a ‘Your Community, Your Choice’ grant.

The small scale grants of up to £2,000, which are provided by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Sovereign Housing Association as part of the neighbourhood partnership for the area, aim to assist voluntary and community organisations to deliver sustainable projects in Buckskin and South Ham.

The neighbourhood partnership brings together representatives from community associations, community planning groups, faith groups, borough and county councillors with agencies such as Sovereign Housing Association, the North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning group and the police to enable local people to influence and improve the quality of life for their community.

To be eligible for funding the projects had to meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Provide a service or activity where there is a proved need

• Aim to strengthen the community by bringing it together

• Enhance the local environment

• Improve the health and wellbeing of the community.

Eleven projects ranging from providing equipment for local groups to youth projects and support services have requested grants exceeding the £12,500 pot available.

As a result, residents will be asked to vote for two projects they wish to receive grants and the projects with the most votes will receive the funding.

The council’s Cabinet member for community services and the environment, Councillor Hayley Eachus, said: “This is an opportunity for local residents to have a say in what they feel they need in the area and the community projects that can do that.

“This funding can make a big difference to all of these projects and I would like to encourage people to go along on Saturday, find out about the great work they are looking to do or build on, and vote for those they want to see get the money.”

For more information about the neighbourhood partnership, visit np.basingstoke.gov.uk.