The Trowbridge Area Board met on Thursday 22 October 2026 to discuss funding applications, appointments, and various local initiatives. Key discussions included the allocation of community grants, the introduction of new funding opportunities such as the Community Wellbeing Fund and the Locally Identified Infrastructure Projects Fund, and updates from key partners including Wiltshire Police and the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Funding Applications

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

• The Amber Foundation applied for £5,000.00 from the Community Area Grants for their Bedroom Refurbishment for Homeless and Unemployed Young People project. This application was deferred as the applicant was not present at the meeting and further details were required.
• Trowbridge Future requested £5,000.00 from the Youth Grants for their Drop-In Youth Sessions project. This initiative aims to provide a weekly informal drop-in session focused on preparing and sharing meals, enabling young people to develop life and employability skills.
• Trowbridge Old Town Hall sought £5,000.00 from the Youth Grants for their Trowbridge Town Hall Youth Creative Programme. This programme, shaped by the Old Town Hall's Youth Board, will offer a range of creative activities including a film club, live music events, silent discos, and graffiti and street art workshops, all intended to be free for young people.
• Trowbridge Area Board – Skate Jam received £800.00 through delegated authority for an event featuring free scooter and skate workshops, demos, games, and prizes, aimed at engaging young people in positive activities.

New Area Board Funding Opportunities

Liam Cripps, Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager, provided an update on several new funding opportunities and initiatives linked to Area Boards.

• Community Wellbeing Fund: This new fund, delivered through the Crowdfunder platform, aims to support community-led projects that improve wellbeing, reduce isolation, and strengthen preventative support. Area Boards have each been allocated up to £11,000, with funding available across two rounds in 2027 and 2027. Projects must align with priorities such as reducing isolation, improving mental health, and enhancing preventative support systems.
• Wiltshire Voluntary Sector Organisation of the Month: This award scheme, funded by the Wiltshire Community Lottery, will recognise a VCSE sector group each month with a certificate and a £100 award. Nominations will open in November 2026, with the scheme officially commencing in January 2027.
• Locally Identified Infrastructure Projects Fund: This fund, with an annual allocation of up to £250,000 from the Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy, will support capital infrastructure projects that accommodate growth and address development impacts. Bids are expected to be between £50,000 and £75,000, with a requirement for equivalent match funding from town and parish councils. Town and parish councils will lead on bringing projects forward, with Area Boards providing local democratic input and endorsement.
• Community Resilience Hubs and Supporting People to Build Financial Resilience: A total of £1.5 million has been allocated from the Crisis and Resilience Fund until March 2029 to establish community resilience hubs. Each Area Board will have approximately £75,000 to invest in proposals that strengthen local partnerships, connect existing services, and create sustainable support systems focused on financial resilience, reducing isolation, and improving wellbeing.

Partner Updates

Several partners provided written and verbal updates on their activities.

• Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service: A quarterly update video for July 2026 was presented, summarising major incidents and the service's work across various departments. The video is available on the Service's YouTube channel.
• Wiltshire Police: An update on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) highlighted operational priorities including safer public spaces, reducing and preventing VAWG, and improving outcomes for victims. Initiatives include the Ending VAWG Coalition, a pilot perpetrator programme, increased use of Domestic Violence Protection Orders, and the ongoing development of Project Vigilant. Crime data for Trowbridge from June to August 2025 and 2026 showed an increase in violent offences and criminal damage, while ASB and drug offences decreased. Priorities include a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) application for Trowbridge town centre, disruption of offenders, retail crime initiatives, and a focus on vulnerability.
• Community First: Updates included activities by Youth Action Wiltshire, such as summer holiday programmes for young carers and young people, and alternative provision at Oxenwood and Linkenholt Centres. The Building Bridges Programme celebrated its 10th anniversary, securing funding until 2029. Carers Together Wiltshire published its Annual Report for 2025-2026, detailing a 38% increase in referrals and significant progress in reducing waiting times for carer assessments. Information was also provided on driver training schemes (MiDAS and CaMPAS) and community insurance services.
• Wiltshire Working Well: This programme, in partnership with Wiltshire Council and Help Counselling, offers fully funded mental health training sessions for employees, managers, and business owners, with courses available in September and October 2026.
• Wiltshire Money: The Community Financial Resilience & Practitioner Support Programme, funded by the Crisis and Resilience Fund, offers training for staff and volunteers supporting residents experiencing financial difficulty. Area Boards were asked to help promote these funded training opportunities.
• Faith Communities Network: The network has seen significant growth, with 50 new members joining in 2026, representing a majority of community areas. A multi-faith steering group has been established, and a 3-year action plan includes goals to develop a strategic partnership with Wiltshire Council, strengthen connections across faith communities, build community resilience, and champion inclusion.
• Wiltshire Council: Winter Resilience and Community Emergency Preparedness: The council is investing in wider resilience and preparedness measures, including continued investment through Local Highways and Footway Improvement Groups, Area Boards, and the Crisis and Resilience Fund. The Parish Emergency Assistance Scheme (PEAS) will end in March 2027, with a shift towards broader community-focused support and increased investment in operational resilience, including highway drainage infrastructure.
• Wessex Community Action: The organisation has launched a refreshed brand identity and new website, designed to better reflect its community-focused work and provide easier access to information, resources, and training for voluntary and community organisations.
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): An update was provided on AA services across Wiltshire and Bath, with a focus on Alcohol Awareness Week and resources for young people. AA operates over 30 weekly meetings across Wiltshire, alongside online and telephone support.

Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG)

The Area Board noted the minutes and recommendations from the LHFIG meeting held on 15 October 2026. Several schemes were considered for funding, including pedestrian assessments, dropped kerbs, and SID infrastructure in Trowbridge, Southwick, and West Ashton. Active projects included parish parking restrictions and ongoing monitoring of traffic calming measures. Several new requests were considered, including speed limit assessments, dropped kerb requests, and SID socket installations across various locations.

Appointments

The Area Board was asked to confirm Councillor representatives for Outside Bodies for 2026/27 and appoint a Lead Councillor for the Local Highways and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG). The Terms of Reference for the LHFIG were also noted.

Community Spotlight

A presentation was to be received from the Amber Foundation, including a 30th-anniversary film.

Other Business

The Area Board was asked to note the Wiltshire Highways Contracts Annual Review of Service 2025-26, which detailed completed highway schemes, bridge works, drainage and flooding initiatives, and traffic signal refurbishments across the county.

The meeting also included opportunities for public participation under the Ask your Area Board agenda item, where members of the public could raise questions relevant to the local area. Updates were also received from key partners, including Wiltshire Police, Trowbridge Child Wellbeing and Young People Partnership, Trowbridge Future, Wiltshire Family Hub, and Town and Parish Council Nominated Representatives. An update on Area Board priorities and the action plan was also presented, alongside information on new Area Board funding opportunities.