ENTREPRENEURS across Bradford are being encouraged to apply for £15,000 as a priority area for the grant funding.

Power to Change's Bright Ideas Fund is now open for new applications and the city is one of six places organisers want to target.

The fund offers tailored support and grants of up to £15,000 to community groups, associations and organisations across England who have a great idea for a community business and want to develop it further but need some support.

Bright Ideas gives community groups the early stage finance they need to carry out local consultations, along with the support and tools to start setting it up.

The programme is funded by Power to Change and delivered by Locality in partnership with Co-operatives UK, the Plunkett Foundation and Groundwork UK.

East Bierley Community Sports Association has already received a grant from the programme.

The association is made up of volunteers who decided that the playing fields and changing facilities at East Bierley, just weren't good enough.

After successfully applying, the Community Business Bright Ideas funding went towards legal work required to build a community hub of a multi-use room, catering facilities, gym, state of the art playing and training surfaces and a running track to be used by existing and new members from the community.

With additional grants, and a loan from Kirklees Council, the Sports Association has completed phase one of the project and provides safe and warm changing room for sports activities. They are now working towards the next stage of their ambitious project.

Simon Armitage of EBCSA said they had completed phase one of the project, which was to build the new changing facilities.

He said the funding had allowed them to move forward with phase two, to create a third playing pitch on site and further improvements of the other sporting facilities on the site.

He added that they had just completed their business plan for phase two of the development

Locality chief executive Tony Armstrong said: “Community businesses generate jobs, tackle social isolation, provide vital services and boost the local economy.

"Whether your focus is on young people or mental health or something completely different that benefits your community – we want and need you to apply!

"People all over England are passionate about their community and have some really bright ideas. We’d particularly like to encourage applications from areas that need community support the most, like Leicester, Grimsby, Hartlepool, Plymouth, Wigan and Bradford.”

Kate Stewart, director of programmes at Power to Change, said: “We’re delighted to be continuing Bright Ideas, to provide crucial support and funding for local people who have a great idea but need some support to make it a reality.

"We’ve had some incredible applications come in already but we believe there are even more bright ideas out there so please do get involved and apply.”

The Community Business Bright Ideas Fund is now open, and will close on Tuesday, April 7.

For further information about the fund visit mycommunity.org.uk/bright-ideas-fund/.