Harrow Borough Council is considering awarding £600,000 in grants for community services.

Originally £500,000 was proposed in a report to the Grants Advisory Panel but the council is now considering increasing the amount.

The money would be used for help organisations run schemes and events to help people in need. 

Harrow Council’s portfolio holder for community and cultural services, Councillor David Perry, said: “Despite huge cuts to our funding, and the most challenging financial situation we have faced in decades, we are committed to supporting and nurturing the great work being done in our community by the voluntary sector.

“We do listen and take comments - and for this reason we have been able make a much smaller reduction in grant funding than originally proposed.

“In the light of the overall cuts to the council’s budget, I am pleased that we are able to set aside this much money for voluntary organisations.

“This money will go towards the work that these organisations carry out to protect and provide for some of the borough’s most vulnerable residents.

“We have an active and valued voluntary sector in Harrow that everyone should be proud of.

“This is why we have set aside this money to support their hard work in the community, unlike some local authorities which have cut this funding.” 

This year, the Council is proposing to ring-fence £75,000 of this grant to fund a new Community and Voluntary Sector support service.

The council has also received 79 grant applications.

These will be considered by the Grants Advisory Panel on February 4 and then their recommendations will be passed to the cabinet who will make the final decision on February 14.