Work to build stronger links between students and residents across the Bath area has been given a £15,000 boost, thanks to a funding award from B&NES Council and the Bath City Forum.
The Student Community Partnership has been awarded £15,000 in funding to provide support for an administration assistant over the next two years.
The post will allow the partnership to build stronger links in residential areas that are new to accommodating students.
The Student Community Partnership is a bridge between Bath College; University of Bath; University of Bath Students’ Union; Bath Spa University; Bath Spa University Students’ Union and Bath & North East Somerset Council.
It supports student residents and permanent residents in coming together and living in the community of Bath.
Bath & North East Somerset Council together with The Bath City Forum have made the money available, which will allow the partnership the opportunity to deliver support to a greater number of residents and develop a number of already successful projects.
Some parts of Bath have seen an increase in the numbers of students who have chosen accommodation away from some of the more well-known areas.
The partnership will provide advice and assistance where community relationships need to be strengthened.
The money has been allocated from the council’s Bath Neighbourhood Portion of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and it was allocated to the Partnership by the forum, which advises on how best to spend CIL receipts for the benefit of local people.
Councillor Colin Blackburn, chair of Bath City Forum, said: “We are pleased to be able to provide support to the Student Community Partnership which will allow it to invest in supporting positive campaigns that help with the social cohesion needed for all of the residents impacted by developments.”
Kalyn Mallard, Student Community Partnership co-ordinator, added: “We are delighted to get this support. It will help us respond more quickly community issues and complaints, alongside the strengthening community engagement with residents, young people and students on shared issues.”
Councillor Bob Goodman, cabinet member for Development and Neighbourhoods, said: “I am really pleased that the Bath City Forum recommended the Student Community Partnership to receive this funding. It will have a positive impact in communities which have the densest population of students.
“Having high numbers of student s living in the city brings unique which need to be managed through early engagement. The partnership operates with the context of ‘our shared city’, working with different communities that live side by side in some cases for the first time.”