Developer funding for Worthing community groups pushes towards £1 million

Released: Monday, 22 December 2025

Worthing Borough Council has invested nearly £1 million in projects that benefit the community, now that the latest round of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Neighbourhood Fund money has been allocated.

This year just under £145,000 was successfully bid for by 40 community groups and voluntary sector organisations, taking the total CIL Neighbourhood Fund money spent in the last four years to £972,000.

The Worthing CIL Neighbourhood Fund is made up of a proportion of the payments collected from developers building in the local area, to offset the impact felt by residents.

The fund was first launched in 2021, and in 2022 we made changes to ensure inclusiveness and transparency, and provided communities with the chance to be involved in the decision-making process.

Projects that support families and young people across Worthing were given a boost this year, with money going to Family Support Work - a group that delivers one-to-one mentoring to children aged between eight and 16 at risk of school absenteeism or exploitation.

The Springboard Charity was also successful in its bid to provide more community sessions for children and young people in Worthing with special educational needs. Children and families struggling with grief will get more support too, after the charity Andy's Angels was awarded money to improve its grief play café.

Help with the cost of living is another focus of this year's fund, with money going towards Worthing Food Foundation's new community food club and Adur and Worthing Food Partnership's Cook to Eat project, which aims to support people to prepare nutritious, budget-friendly meals.

Money is also being used to support cultural and heritage projects, like a one-day seafood festival in Worthing from the organisers behind Between the Blue & Green Film Festival, and help to expand a gig buddies scheme so autistic and learning-disabled residents can enjoy regular nights out at Worthing venues.

Improvements at many of Worthing's sporting grounds and green spaces will also be made thanks to CIL funding. Worthing Table Tennis Club has been given funding to launch lessons for primary school children at Bohunt School, and Chippingdale Cricket Club got funding to improve disabled access at its clubhouse in Rotary Recreation Ground.

There will be a new eco trail and rainwater-harvesting system at Brooklands Park, while the volunteers at New Parade Open Space will use funding to improve the biodiversity and planting at the green space near Splashpoint.

Building stronger communities is a priority for many community groups, and there is funding for a weekly health and connection hub for older adults run by The Russell Martin Foundation at the Maybridge Keystone Centre, as well as a new community hub at West Tarring Allotments.

All of this year's successful applications were chosen by community assessment panels, made up of cross-party councillors and community representatives, at venues in the four areas of Worthing that were eligible for funding.

Any groups that have not been successful this year will be given feedback and invited to apply for funding in the future.

Cllr Dom Ford, Worthing's cabinet member for communities, culture and leisure, said:

“We were extremely pleased to receive a wide range of worthwhile applications from both new and well-established groups this year.

“Worthing has a rich community and voluntary sector and we're looking forward to hearing about the positive impact that this year's successful projects are certain to have.”

To find out more about the fund, see:

• Worthing CIL Neighbourhood Fund

Photos of previously successful projects that have been awarded money from the Worthing CIL Neighbourhood Fund:

Photo: Music Waves Therapy

Photo: Humber Avenue Community Allotment's new community building

Photo: Friends of Denton Gardens sunken garden project

(PR25-103)

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