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The area boards are a way of working to bring local decision making into the heart of the community. Area boards are not like old fashioned council meetings and there are lots of opportunities for local people to get involved. Meetings take place in each community area and between these meetings different task groups consisting of local people, Wiltshire Council staff and councillors tackle local issues and find solutions to take forward at the next area board.
Area boards exist to work alongside other organisations to make things happen in the community. These groups can include town and parish councils, voluntary and community groups, youth organisations, sports clubs and local charities. Area boards support these groups' work and influence this to meet local priorities. Area boards wouldn't be able to achieve what they do without these partners working on the ground with them.
Area boards host events within the community approximately every three years where it listens to the views of a wide range of local residents. This process culminates in a large public meeting which selects the priorities for the area board and community area, based on evidence provided by teams right across Wiltshire Council. The area board adopts these and works hard with partners to develop projects that will address these priorities.
An important role of the area boards is to provide grants to community groups via three separate funding schemes. Youth funding is allocated in partnership with local youth networks and helps to provide positive activities for young people in the target age range of 13-19, or up to 25 with SEND. Health and Wellbeing groups in each area help to award funding for services that support older or vulnerable people from our communities. Finally, area boards hold capital funding that can support all types of local group to help purchase equipment, assets, refurbish existing buildings or build new ones.
A Community Engagement Manager (CEM) is available in every community area and they work closely with members of the area board. This includes facilitating the area board's meetings to make sure they are relevant to local priorities and to work with partners and members of the community between meetings to tackle these local priorities. CEMs work closely with their communities and really get to know them. They are experienced in developing projects, building relationships and putting together funding to get jobs done.
Covering the parishes of Allington, Amesbury, Tilshead, Orcheston, Shrewton, Wyle, Steeple Langford, Berwick St James. Stapleford, Great Wishford, Durrington, Figheldean, Milston, Bulford, Wilsford cum Lake, Woodford, Durnford, Cholderton, Newton Tony, Idmiston, Winterbourne and Winterbourne Stoke.
Covering the parishes of Biddestone, Castle Coombe, Chippenham, Chippenham Without, Christian Malford, Grittleton, Hullavington, Kington Langley, Kington St Michael, Langley Burrell, Nettleton, North Wraxall, Seagry, Stanton St Quintin, Sutton Benger and Yatton Keynell.
Covering the parishes of Ashton Keynes, Brinkworth, Brokenborough, Charlton, Crudwell, Dauntsey, Easton Grey, Great Somerford, Hankerton, Lea and Cleverton, Leigh, Little Somerford, Luckington and Alderton, Malmesbury, Minety, Norton and Foxley, Oaksey, Sherston, Sopworth and St Paul Malmesbury Without.
Covering the parishes of Aldbourne, Avebury, Baydon, Berwick Bassett, Broad Hinton, Chilton Foliat, East Kennett, Froxfield, Fyfield, Marlborough, Mildenhall, Ogbourne St. Andrew, Ogbourne St. George, Preshute, Ramsbury, Savernake, West Overton, Winterbourne Bassett and Winterbourne Monkton.
Covering the parishes of Atworth, Broughton Gifford, Bulkington, Great Hinton, Keevil, Melksham, Melksham Without, Poulshot, Seend, Semington and Steeple Ashton.
Covering the parishes of Alton, Beechingstoke, Burbage, Buttermere, Charlton and Wilsford, Chirton and Connock, Easton, Grafton, Great Bedwyn, Ham, Little Bedwyn, Manningford, Marden, Milton Lilbourne, North Newnton, Patney, Pewsey, Rushall, Shalbourne, Stanton St Bernard, Upavon, Wilcot, Huish and Oare, Woodborough and Wootton Rivers.
Covering the parishes of Alderbury, Britford, Clarendon Park, Coombe Bissett, Downton, Firsdown, Grimstead, Landford, Laverstock, Ford and Old Sarum, Odstock, Pitton and Farley, Redlynch, West Dean, Whiteparish and Winterslow.
Mere, East Knoyle, Kilmington, Mere, Sedgehill and Semley, Stourton with Gasper, West Knoyle and Zeals.
Tisbury, Ansty, Berwick St John, Berwick St Leonard, Chicklade, Chilmark, Donhead St Andrew, Donhead St Mary, Fonthill Bishop, Fonthill Gifford, Fovant, Hindon, Sutton Mandeville, Swallowcliffe, Tisbury, Tollard Royal and West Tisbury.
Wilton, Alvediston, Barford St Martin, Bishopstone, Bowerchalke, Broad Chalke, Burcombe Without, Compton Chamberlayne, Dinton, Ebbesbourne Wake, Netherhampton, Quidhampton, South Newton, Stratford Tony and Teffont.
Covering the parishes of Bratton, Coulston, Dilton Marsh, Edington, Heywood and Hawkeridge.
Area board grants
Every year the 18 Area Boards across Wiltshire provide over £1million worth of grants to non-profit organisations including community groups, charities and community interest companies (CIC's).
The grants awarded are usually for up to £5,000 but can be more in exceptional circumstances.
All grant applications should seek to address the local priorities of that area. Information about local priorities can be discussed with your Community Engagement Manager and additional information can be found through the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) via the Wiltshire Intelligence website.
Area Board grants are split into 3 funding schemes:
Community grants - Providing capital funding to help provide facilities and equipment for projects that are important to the local community.
Youth grants - Providing revenue funding for projects that provide positive activities for young people aged 13-19 or up to 25 with SEND. A positive activity can be any educational or recreational leisure-time activity including arts, sports, leisure and informal education.
Health & wellbeing grants - Providing revenue funding to support projects that benefit and improve older and vulnerable residents health and wellbeing.
What is the application process?
Applications will be considered at each Area Board meeting. For details of the next meeting please follow the links under 'Area Board meeting dates'.
When you have submitted your application, your Community Engagement Manager (CEM) will review it. If there is anything wrong or missing from the application, the CEM will explain and send the application back for revision.
Once we receive your grant, we will get in touch to let you know when your application will be heard. You will be required to attend this meeting to introduce your grant and answer any questions from the local Councillors who allocate the funding awards. You will not be expected to make a formal presentation.
Although in most cases you will find out on the night, we will contact you to let you know whether your application was successful or not. If your application is approved, we will e-mail you to arrange payment and seek agreement to the terms and conditions.
CATGs are sub-groups of the area boards that aim to find solutions for local transport issues such as road repairs, traffic problems, road layouts and parking. Each group has about 10 members including area board members, town and parish council members and community representatives. The meetings are also attended by relevant officers from Wiltshire council including a senior transport planner, a senior traffic engineer and a local highway maintenance engineer as necessary. Their key purpose is to offer advice and support to the group but they do not vote on the issues raised. The CATG may also invite representatives from local organisations to its meetings to give technical advice or to share local knowledge.
The amount allocated is dependent on the geographical size and population for each community area. The funding allocation is for capital expenditure and can only be used to provide new and improved highway infrastructure. the funding is suitable for small scale schemes that improve safety, increase accessibility and sustainability by promoting walking; cycling and public transport and improving traffic management. It cannot be used to fund revenue functions such as maintenance schemes or the provision of passenger transport services.
The Our Community Matters site aims to strengthen local communities in Wiltshire by making it easier for local people and groups to talk to one another online.
Users can use these virtual noticeboards to find about local news, local debates, events and volunteering. Users are also welcome to register as a contributor to connect with their communities through posts and comments or advertise community events and volunteer opportunities.
Contact us
Area Boards Wiltshire Council County Hall Bythesea Road Trowbridge Wiltshire BA14 8JN
Wiltshire Council
Guide to identify what is capital and revenue [266.45KB]
Report a highways improvement issue (Word document) [38.97KB]