New SPARK Fund Launches in Castlefields to Back Resident-Led Ideas and Community Action
Residents in Castlefields are being invited to turn their ideas into action through the launch of the new SPARK Fund – a community micro-grants programme created in partnership between Wellbeing Enterprises CIC and Plus Dane Housing.
The fund will offer grants of up to £250 to support local residents to test simple, practical ideas that strengthen connection and community life in Castlefields, improve wellbeing, and help people feel more connected to where they live.
Administered by Wellbeing Enterprises on behalf of Plus Dane Housing, the SPARK Fund has been developed following an extensive community health and wellbeing consultation with Castlefields residents. The consultation highlighted a strong appetite for greater community involvement, more opportunities for people to connect, and a desire for residents to play a bigger role in shaping the future of their neighbourhood.
The consultation found that residents consistently wanted to see “more opportunities to take part in community life”, alongside stronger support for “community-led activity and neighbour involvement”.
Rather than focusing on large-scale projects alone, the SPARK Fund is designed to support grassroots action and experimentation – helping residents try new ideas, learn from them, and build confidence, capability and local leadership over time.
Residents can apply to the SPARK Fund from Friday 15th May, with applications closing on Friday 26th June.
Mark Swift, CEO of Wellbeing Enterprises CIC, said:
“The SPARK Fund is about recognising that communities already hold ideas, strengths and solutions within them. Through the consultation, residents spoke very clearly about wanting to be more involved, more connected, and to play a greater role in shaping the future of Castlefields.
This fund is intentionally small and practical. We want to create opportunities for people to test ideas, build confidence, develop new relationships and learn through doing. Sometimes small ideas can spark much bigger change.
What matters to us is not only the projects themselves, but the learning, agency and community leadership that grows through the process. We want residents to feel that they can take action and make a difference in the place where they live.”
Emma Sneyd, Head of Social Impact at Plus Dane Housing, said:
“At Plus Dane, we believe thriving communities are built alongside residents, not simply for them. The SPARK Fund is an opportunity to support people in Castlefields to bring forward ideas that matter to them and their neighbours.
The consultation showed just how much pride people have in their community and how important connection, belonging and local participation are to wellbeing. We hope this fund will help unlock creativity, strengthen relationships and support residents to shape positive change in ways that feel meaningful locally.
We’re excited to work alongside Wellbeing Enterprises and residents as these ideas begin to grow.”
The SPARK Fund is open to residents living in the Castlefields community and is particularly interested in ideas that:
- Bring people together
- Improve wellbeing and connection
- Strengthen community pride
- Encourage neighbour involvement
- Test new approaches to local challenges
- Support learning and participation
Support will also be available to help residents develop ideas and complete applications.
For more information and to apply click here
Or contact:
01928 589 799
[email protected]
Notes to Editors
The SPARK Fund was developed following the Castlefields Community Health and Wellbeing Consultation undertaken by Wellbeing Enterprises CIC on behalf of Plus Dane Housing. The consultation gathered insight from 140 residents through community conversations and surveys and identified strong support for community-led action, greater participation and resident involvement in shaping local priorities.
