[cma-l] Community Leadership Fund - extended deadline 11/11/08

[CMA-L]

Helping Communities Lead By Example

Twenty-two projects from across England are set to share £1.3 million
funding to help tackle violent extremism in local communities.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has revealed the groups that are to
receive grants from the first round of the Department for Communities
and Local Government's (DCLG) Community Leadership Fund.

The fund aims to build the capacity of charities, not-for-profit
organisations, and community groups to enable them to take the lead in
tackling violent, extremist influences within Muslim communities.

As well as improving organisational capacity building, funding will
also be targeted at projects that develop role models and leaders
amongst young and female Muslims, as well as helping faith leaders
gain the skills required to engage with their local communities.

Although DCLG is keen to fund initiatives that can have a strong
regional or national impact, they have also set aside some of the £2m
annual budget to support a number of grassroots initiatives that aim
to tackle extremism at a local level.

Announcing the successful groups, Ms Blears said:

"The importance of strong community leadership cannot be
underestimated. Good leaders are the people that inspire and challenge
and can rally communities to respond to some of the biggest issues we
face.

"Alongside figureheads and spokespeople we need to ensure that people
working in communities at all levels have a say and get the support
they need. The influence of women and young people cannot be
overlooked. Their voices often resonate deepest with the communities
they live in and with the individuals that need to engaged with the
most."

Applications for grants from the second funding round are still
welcome, with the closing deadline having been extended from 30
September until 11 November 2008.

For more information about the Community Leadership Fund and to
download application forms, visit:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/preventingextremism/communityleadershipfund/