The Melksham Area Board met on Wednesday 7 October 2026 to discuss funding for local communities and consider various grant applications. The Board discussed new funding streams available to support local initiatives, including an overview of the Community Wellbeing Fund, which operates through a crowdfunding model with Area Boards providing matched funding, with each Area Board allocated up to £11,000. The Board also considered the Wiltshire Voluntary Sector Organisation of the Month award, a scheme funded by the Wiltshire Community Lottery, which officially commences in January 2027. Additionally, the Locally Identified Infrastructure Projects (LIIPs) Fund was discussed, which allocates up to £250,000 annually for three years to support capital infrastructure projects. The Community Resilience Hubs and Supporting People to Build Financial Resilience Programme was also presented, with each Area Board having approximately £75,000 to invest in local proposals.

Area Board Funding

The Board considered several applications for funding across different grant streams.

Community Area Grants:

• The Board considered an application from Shaw Village Hall and Playing Fields for their Shaw Village Hall AV project.
• The Board considered an application from Steeple Ashton Recreation and Community Development Group for their Steeple Ashton Trampoline project.
• The Board considered an application from Steeple Ashton Village Hall for their Village Hall Bar and Plumbing refurbishment project.
• The Board considered an application from Riverside Club for their Riverside Centre exterior Property Upgrade project.

Young People Grants:

• The Board considered an application from 4Youth South West for their Youth Work Melksham project.
• The Board considered an application from 4Youth South West for their TeenTalk Young People Counselling service.

Delegated Funding:

The Board noted potential funding awards made under the Delegated Funding Process:

• A potential award of £1,000 for Melksham Area Board for Summer activities for young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities).
• A potential award of £500 to Melksham Amateur Boxing Club towards the Supporting Growth of Youth Boxing in Melksham initiative.

Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG)

The Board noted the minutes and considered recommendations from the Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG) meeting held on 10 September 2026. Several schemes were considered for addition to the Priority Schemes List with potential allocated funding:

• The Common, Broughton Gifford: Consideration was given to allocating £1,450.00 for priority signs and road markings, with a potential 33% contribution from Broughton Gifford parish council.
• The Common, Broughton Gifford: Consideration was given to allocating £880.00 for two retention sockets and a post for a Speed Indicator Device (SID), with a potential 33% contribution from Broughton Gifford parish council.
• Heather Avenue / Dorset Crescent, Melksham: Consideration was given to allocating £1,000.00 for the installation of a Kee-Klamp style staggered pedestrian barrier, with a potential 33% contribution from Melksham Town Council.
• A365 Shaw Hill, Shaw: Consideration was given to allocating £440.00 for a retention socket and posts for a Speed Indicator Device (SID), with no contribution required from Melksham Without Parish Council.
• A365 Redstocks: Consideration was given to allocating £800.00 for the installation of two 'Accompanied riders on horseback' warning signs, with a potential 33% contribution from Melksham Without Parish Council.
• Great Hinton Village: Consideration was given to allocating £500.00 for the installation of a double bend warning sign, with no contribution required from Great Hinton Parish Council, as schemes £500 or less do not require a third-party contribution.

Written Updates and Information Items

The Board noted several written updates and information items, including:

• Wessex Community Action update.
• Alcoholics Anonymous update, highlighting resources for young people.
• Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service quarterly video update.
• Wiltshire Working Well programme, offering mental health training for workplaces.
• Wiltshire Money @ Community Financial Resilience and Practitioner Support Programme, providing training for frontline staff and volunteers.
• Development of the Faith Communities Network, aiming to strengthen partnerships between Wiltshire Council and faith groups.
• Wiltshire Police - Violence Against Women and Girls September 2026 Update.
• Wiltshire Council update on winter resilience and community emergency preparedness, detailing investments in highway drainage and resilience equipment.

Key Partner Updates

Updates were received from Wiltshire Police and representatives from Town and Parish Councils.

Chairman's Updates

There were no specific Chairman's Updates recorded.

Close & Future Dates

The next meeting was scheduled for 10 February 2027.