RCCD A SCHEME for children in the Roffey area of Horsham was launched last week and now all eligible groups can apply for grants. Roffey Children Can Do (RCCD) was launched on Tuesday 1 December and now the RCCD grant funding pot is open for applications. Roffey Children Can Do is a grants scheme which gives money to groups of children aged between five and 13 who want to do something positive in their community. Up to £1,500 is available for each group and should be spent on things that children decide would make most difference to them. Decisions as to who gets the money and how much each group gets are made by a panel of children and young people. RCCD aims to: · Empower children to plan their own projects and play a central role in the fund application process · Provide funding for a range of activities and experiences for groups of children who have greater needs and fewer chances · Support activities which will enable children to stay safe, be healthy, have fun, do well and make positive changes in their community and prepare them for their future · Help small children’s groups get started and become sustainable in the future · Engage with groups that are inexperienced in finding funding and offer them support in preparing a funding application. Young people involved with RCCD are pleased with how it’s progressing. Caitlin is one of them. She said: “I always enjoy Roffey Children Can Do! It helps children to have more fun and is always so meaningful. It also persuades young children to think more about their community.’’ ‘’Roffey Children Can Do is a good opportunity for me to learn things and how I can handle money. I find it is also great fun and a good time for me to meet people. It is also good for me to make important decisions,“ added Chris, another young person involved with RCCD. Applications must come from a group of children aged five – 13 who live in the Roffey area of Horsham. They must benefit children with greater needs and fewer chances and they can’t be for activities which promote a particular religion or political aim. RCCD is a partnership initiative involving Horsham District Council, Novas Scarman, West Sussex Council for Voluntary Youth Services, West Sussex Youth Service and Churches Together. West Sussex Council for Voluntary Youth Services has secured £3,000 funding to deliver ‘Children Can Do’ programme in Roffey area. The closing date for applications to the scheme is 5pm on Friday 29 January 2010 and decision making day for deciding where the grants will go is on Thursday 18 February 2010. For more information, contact Clare Ebelewicz, Senior Youth and Older Persons Officer at Horsham District Council on 01403 215137 or email .