New fund backs community-led projects across Test Valley
Village facilities in Awbridge, Ampfield and Goodworth Clatford are set to be the first to benefit from Test Valley Borough Council’s Community Delivery Fund (CDF), which has been created to back community-led projects that will make a lasting difference to residents.
Approved by full council last year, the £2 million CDF supports projects in the rural areas and southern parishes that have strong local support and can be delivered within around two years. It is designed to empower residents to shape and deliver improvements to community buildings, facilities and services, strengthen local identity, build resilience as needs change, and promote inclusion by involving diverse voices in decisions and design.
Following extensive work with communities and ward members across Test Valley to identify the local issues and opportunities, the council has announced the scheme’s first funding recipients.
Awbridge village hall is set to receive £71,232 to upgrade the village’s community hub. The project will extend the hall and kitchen by 50 per cent, improve outdoor facilities,. The plans respond to clear local demand shown through a village-wide survey and engagement events, and will increase capacity for popular activities while improving flexibility in all weathers.
Just over £22,000 has been awarded to the parish council for essential roof works at Ampfield Village Hall. The works will make the building safer, protect the fabric of the hall and reduce heat loss, lowering running costs and cutting the hall’s carbon footprint. This will also enable future sustainable energy options, such as solar panels and heat pumps.
And Goodworth Clatford Village Club has been awarded more than £69,000 to replace windows and external doors and refurbish the interior, making the venue warmer, safer and more welcoming. The project follows strong community support, with 180 responses from 332 households, and will help widen participation and strengthen the club’s long-term finances.
Councillor Stewart Macdonald, portfolio holder for community led projects, said; “The Community Delivery Fund is about backing local ideas that come from the community. These first three projects show what the fund is here to do. They protect valued buildings, improve facilities that people rely on, and help communities plan for the future with confidence.
But it’s more than a traditional grant scheme. It brings communities and the council together from the very beginning, helping local groups build strong, evidence led cases for investment. By focusing on clear community need, local leadership and long lasting impact, the fund gives people the confidence to unlock not only council funding, but other external opportunities too. It’s also about bringing partners together and understanding how we can best support each place, with communities leading the way on shaping their future.
By investing in places like Awbridge, Ampfield and Goodworth Clatford, we’re supporting stronger, more inclusive and more resilient communities across Test Valley, and helping ensure these projects leave a lasting legacy for the people who call these places home.”
Councillor Phil North, leader of Test Valley Borough Council, said: “Strong communities do not happen by accident. They grow when local people are listened to, trusted to lead, and are supported to turn their ideas into action. The CDF creates the right conditions for that to happen by helping communities invest in what matters to them, plan for the future and adapt as needs change.
“By backing projects shaped by a wide range of local voices, we are making sure improvements are inclusive, sustainable and rooted in the places they serve.”
Further opportunities under the Community Delivery Fund will be shared as the programme develops, with the council working closely with local groups and parish councils to support community-led change.
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