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This week we have news of new grant funding support, events at Stratford Park Lido and the Museum in the Park, and a chance to support our Charity of the Year.

If you're thinking about applying for council funding, why not book a place at one of our grants clinics? Stroud District Council is hosting two free sessions on Wednesday and Thursday this week where community groups, charities, schools, local organisations and residents can learn more about SDC grants and receive tailored advice on developing project ideas and preparing funding applications. Whether you're applying for the first time or looking to strengthen a previous application, our grant teams will be on hand to help. Find out more and book your place on our website https://www.stroud.gov.uk/news .

There's still time to enjoy a swim at Stratford Park Lido, which remains open until 30 September. To mark the end of the season, the Save Stroud Lido Outdoor Pool group is hosting a special `Splash Up’ event on Sunday 27 September, featuring a poetry workshop, live music and a synchronised swimming display. All activities are included in the standard admission price. Details of how to book are here on the Active Lifestyles website: Stratford Park Lido - Active Lifestyles Stroud District

The Museum in the Park's latest exhibition, UNmaking, is now open until 8 November. Created by talented members of the Textile Study Group, the contemporary textile exhibition explores themes of deconstruction, creativity and discovery. It’s accompanied by a programme of Meet the Maker sessions and workshops led by expert textile tutors. Find out more on the Museum in the Park website Museum in the Park

Good luck to everyone taking part in the Five Valleys Walk on Sunday 27 September. The event is a major fundraiser for Meningitis Now, our Charity of the Year, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. This year offers more ways to get involved than ever, with routes ranging from 1.5 miles to the full 21-mile challenge, plus a new accessible 5k walk along the canal towpath. The 5k route must be booked in advance, while participants on the other routes can turn up and register on the day. Find out more at The Five Valleys Walk 2026 .

Finally, don't forget to sign up for our email alerts to receive council news, events and service updates direct to your inbox: www.stroud.gov.uk/emailalerts.

Community groups, charities, schools, local organisations and residents with ideas to improve their neighbourhoods are being invited to attend a series of free grant clinics designed to help them access Stroud District Council funding for local projects.

Stroud District Council (SDC) is hosting two drop-in events this September, giving people the opportunity to book one-to-one sessions with grant officers and receive tailored advice on developing project ideas and preparing funding applications.

The clinics are aimed at anyone considering applying for an SDC grant, as well as those who may have applied unsuccessfully in the past and would like guidance on how to strengthen a future application.

Representatives from a range of council funding programmes will be available to discuss projects, explain eligibility criteria and share advice on what makes a successful application.

The council hopes the sessions will encourage more people to come forward with ideas that could benefit local communities and help make the grant application process as easy as possible. 

Whether attendees have never applied for a council grant before, or have been unsuccessful in the past, the clinics are designed to provide practical advice, build confidence and give projects the best possible chance of success. 

People attending will be able to pre-book a free 20-minute appointment with the grant team they are most interested in speaking to. During registration, attendees can also indicate if they would like to speak with additional grant teams, and organisers will do their best to accommodate those requests.

The Joint Grants Clinics will take place on:

·       Wednesday 23 September, 10am to 2pm at The Rest Café, Court Farm, Broad Street, Kings Stanley, GL10 3PN. Book here: SDC Grants Clinic Drop-In Tickets, Wednesday, September 23  •  10 AM - 2 PM | Eventbrite

·       Thursday 24 September, 5pm to 7pm, The Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud, GL5 1AE. Book here: SDC Grants Clinic Drop-In Tickets, Thursday, September 24  •  5 PM - 7 PM | Eventbrite

Angela Gillingham, Stroud District Council’s Head of Community Services said:

"We know there are fantastic ideas out there that could make a real difference to communities across the district, but applying for funding can sometimes feel daunting. These grant clinics are an opportunity for people to talk through their ideas, ask questions and get practical advice from the teams who administer our funding programmes."

"Whether you've never applied for a grant before, you're developing a project and need some guidance, or you've had an application turned down in the past, we'd encourage you to come along and find out how we can help."

Grant programmes attending (subject to confirmation)

Culture Fund - This team will not be present at this event, but you can contact the team and find out more by following this link - Culture grants 2026

Walking and Cycling Fund - A fund which aims to remove barriers and encourage more people to choose walking and cycling as an alternative to the private car. Most of this funding goes towards larger strategic projects, but there is a small amount available for local projects that increase active travel.

Small Grants Programme - A flexible grants programme supporting local voluntary, community, and not-for-profit organisations to deliver projects that benefit residents and strengthen communities. Funding can help groups develop activities, services, events, and community initiatives that address local needs. Up to £1000 can be given by Stroud District Council, find out more information - Community Grants

Stroud Funding - Stroud Funding is a programme where community ideas can come to life through crowdfunding, with local people donating to projects they want to support. If your project meets the eligibility criteria, it could receive up to £10,000 in match funding from Stroud District Council, capped at 50% of your crowdfunding target. For example, a project with a funding target of £3,000 could receive up to £1,500 from Stroud District Council. There are two rounds per year, one in Spring and one in Autumn. Find out more information - Stroud Funding - Home – Spacehive

Schools and Churchyards fund - This team will not be present at this event, but you can contact the team and find out more by following this link - Supporting you

Please note, places are limited and advance booking is required.

Residents across Stroud district are being encouraged to make a few simple changes to help waste and recycling crews collect more recycling, more efficiently, as part of Recycle Week 2026.

Throughout the week, Stroud District Council will be sharing practical recycling tips based on feedback from collection crews, highlighting small actions that can make a big difference on collection day.

The campaign focuses on three key messages:

1.     Flatten large cardboard boxes to roughly the size of your recycling box before putting them out for collection.

2.     Place recycling loose in recycling boxes, bins and bags rather than inside plastic bags.

3.     Recycle batteries and vapes safely from home using the council's kerbside collection service.

Large cardboard boxes can quickly fill collection vehicles, meaning crews may need to leave their rounds to empty vehicles more frequently. Flattening cardboard helps maximise space, allowing more recycling to be collected before vehicles need to return to the depot.

Residents are also being reminded that batteries and vapes should never be placed in household refuse or recycling bins. Incorrect disposal can cause fires in collection vehicles and waste facilities, putting crews and equipment at risk.

As part of the council's kerbside service, residents can recycle up to 10 household batteries and five vapes each week. Batteries should be placed in one clear bag and vapes in a separate clear bag, then left on top of the food waste bin lid on collection day.

Keeping recycling loose rather than bundled in plastic bags also helps collection crews identify materials more easily, reducing contamination and helping more materials to be successfully recycled.

Angela Gillingham, Head of Community Services at Stroud District Council, said:

"Our crews work hard every day to collect recycling from thousands of households across the district, and there are a few simple things residents can do that really help.

"Flattening large cardboard boxes, keeping recycling loose and recycling batteries and vapes separately only take a moment, but together these small actions help collections run more smoothly, improve safety and ensure we can recycle as much material as possible.

"Recycle Week is a great opportunity to remind residents that many of us are already doing the right thing. By making a few small improvements to how we present our recycling, we can all help Stroud district recycle more and waste less."

Residents who regularly have more cardboard or paper recycling than will fit in their containers can collect additional recycling boxes free of charge from the council offices at Ebley Mill during opening hours, or arrange for boxes to be delivered to their home for a small charge.

To stay up to date with service changes, collection information and recycling tips throughout the year, people can also sign up for the council’s waste and recycling newsletter 

• Order a new recycling container: www.stroud.gov.uk/orderbin
• Find out about battery recycling: www.stroud.gov.uk/batteries
• Find out about vape recycling: www.stroud.gov.uk/vapes

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