The third annual Rural Grant Scheme run by East Hampshire District Council is open to applications for grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 until August 27.

It was launched during a breakfast meeting at the Basingstoke and Alton Cardiac Rehab Centre, where chief executive Sarah Quarterman spoke about her successful Rural Grant application and the difference it made to visitors to the centre.

She said: “We now have air conditioning in our meeting room, which means we can welcome more health and community groups to host events here, and the new outside exercise area provides us with more space to help our clients rebuild their strength and gain the support they need to lead more active and healthy lives.”

Sarah was handed a Rural Grant plaque by Cllr Robert Mocatta, East Hampshire’s portfolio holder for regeneration and prosperity, who said successful grant applicants from previous rounds had used their funds to great effect for the community.

He added: “I couldn’t be more proud of the outcomes these grants have delivered, from a community kitchen which has decreased loneliness in and around Passfield to this example of partnership working which will benefit so many residents requiring support as they regain their health from not just heart problems or strokes but also debilitating viruses like Long Covid.”

The meeting also launched a programme to help employers with recruiting, interviewing and retention strategies, artificial intelligence training to make businesses more resilient and strategically agile, and support for people entering the job market through Kickstart and Fedcap. For details email [email protected]

East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds, who opened the event, said: “These great programmes show how determined the businesses and community groups in East Hampshire are to make the most of every opportunity out there.”