Horsham District Council is delighted to announce the successful recipients of community grant funding as part of its Better Billingshurst Community Fund and Investment Programme.
The Programme, which was initiated in 2024 as part of the Council’s commitment to pursue infrastructure and community benefits for the Parish of Billingshurst, will eventually see some £2.5 million being spent to deliver improved facilities that serve the residents and businesses of the Parish.
The Council has worked in collaboration with Billingshurst Parish Council and Billingshurst Community Partnership in the development of the Programme.
Applications for the Better Billingshurst Community Grant, which forms part of the overall Programme, were submitted from many worthy local organisations and community groups between July and September 2025 and reviewed in accordance with the Council’s Community Grants Policy.
Community grant funding will be awarded to the following groups:
- Billingshurst Bowling Club – for green improvements
- Billingshurst Community Partnership - for its Open Gardens Project
- Billingshurst Primary Academy Bees - for its outdoor play area and learning scheme
- Billingshurst Primary Academy – to improve garden spaces
- Billingshurst Women’s Hall – for playground upgrades and benches
- Horsham Matters – for mobile foodbank running costs
- The Weald Community School – to build upon its Greenpower Racing Team.
The total grant funding package exceeds £13,000.
The Council has also identified a range of potential improvements to infrastructure in Billingshurst as part of the overall Programme. These improvements will be announced once the Spending Panel, formed of representatives from the Council, Billingshurst Parish Council and Billingshurst Community Partnership, meet to discuss and agree which infrastructure projects to take forward.
Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Planning and Infrastructure Cllr Ruth Fletcher commented:
As a council, we are deeply committed to fostering vibrant, inclusive communities and enhancing the wellbeing of our residents.
I’m really pleased that such deserving local organisations have been awarded funding through the Better Billingshurst Programme.
Their projects will bring real, tangible benefits to people across the Parish, supporting everything from outdoor learning and green spaces to vital community services.
This is a fantastic example of how local collaboration and investment can make a meaningful difference to everyday lives.
To inform its work, the Council conducted an extensive consultation with a broad range of community groups and key stakeholders such as Billingshurst Parish Council, Billingshurst Sports and Recreation Association and Billingshurst Community Partnership, as well as reaching out to local schools, scout groups, churches and residents.
Details about the public realm infrastructure projects which will be delivered as part of the wider overall Programme will be shared in due course.
Find out more about the Billingshurst Community Fund and Investment Programme