Rushcliffe community groups can ask firms for free cash, materials, volunteers or expertise through Match My Project. Here is what it gave out in year one.

Community groups in Rushcliffe can ask businesses for free help, from cash and building materials to volunteers and professional skills, through an online scheme the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) has now been running for a year.

The scheme is called Match My Project. A group posts what its project needs; firms browse the requests and “match” with the ones they can help, then deliver that help for free. EMCCA joined the platform a year ago and on 2 November published a round-up of what it has paid for so far. (EMCCA, 2 November 2026)

EMCCA’s members are Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council, under the elected Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, so Rushcliffe sits inside its area. None of the five projects in the round-up is placed in Rushcliffe, which leaves room for clubs, churches, community centres and volunteer groups here to ask.

What the Mayor said

“It’s great to see what Match My Project, which is all about ensuring that benefits from public investment flow into communities, has enabled over the past year,” Mayor Claire Ward said. “Businesses have been generous, sharing surplus materials, as well as their time, skills and funding, and the results have been as diverse and interesting as our communities.

“From growing native trees and supporting young people to providing clothing and helping community centres keep their doors open, the projects featured here are making a difference in communities right across the East Midlands.

“I’m pleased EMCCA has been able to establish something so useful with the support of Match My Project, and I hope we can help many more businesses and community organisations find each other and work together over the year ahead.”

Mayor Claire Ward standing with two Nottinghamshire County Council councillors at the launch of Match My Project
Mayor Claire Ward with Cllr Stuart Matthews, left, Nottinghamshire County Council cabinet member for finance and resources, and Cllr Mick Barton, the county council leader, at the launch of Match My Project. Photo: supplied by East Midlands Combined County Authority

What groups got in year one

Sherwood Forest Trust runs a community tree nursery where a staff member and eight regular volunteers grow native Sherwood trees from seed. After a mast year the team collected more than 30,000 acorns but had no budget for the timber to build more raised beds. TalarMade gave £508 towards timber and fittings plus five hours of volunteering. The trust called it “such a helpful contribution to growing more Sherwood Forest native trees with the community who live here”. EMCCA says about 50 people volunteer at the nursery each year, with more than 200 reached through schools and learning events.

A TalarMade representative and a Sherwood Forest Trust representative holding a certificate at the tree nursery
TalarMade and Sherwood Forest Trust at the community tree nursery. Photo: supplied by East Midlands Combined County Authority

Sharewear Clothing Scheme gives free clothing to people in clothing poverty across the East Midlands, working with about 250 referring agencies and charities and 130 outreach organisations. EMCCA says it recorded more than 23,000 clothing interventions last year, supporting more than 9,000 people, and passed on 86 tonnes of donated clothing for reuse. Its request asked for surplus stock, end-of-line items and returns; EMCCA answered it with a clothing donation, including many individual donations.

The Will Garvey Trust Foundation, which works to prevent suicide among young people, asked for 20 branded running vests for young fundraisers. McConnell supplied them, plus an hour of time. “Thank you so much for supporting WTF,” a foundation spokesperson said. “The running vests look amazing and our runners will be proud to wear them with the logo so prominent. We’re incredibly grateful.”

Three people wearing green and black Why Talking Fixes t-shirts from the Will Garvey Trust Foundation
Will Garvey Trust Foundation supporters in the charity's Why Talking Fixes shirts. Photo: supplied by East Midlands Combined County Authority

YMCA Robin Hood Group: children and young people at one of its Nottinghamshire care homes asked for a chicken coop, to learn practical skills and look after animals. Lovell East Midlands gave £1,000 and five hours of time, working with a joiner from Full On Joinery to build it.

Four people standing beside a new wooden chicken coop in a garden
The chicken coop built for a YMCA Robin Hood Group home. Photo: supplied by East Midlands Combined County Authority

The Tin Hat Centre in Selston, Nottinghamshire, has run community services for 24 years: a place to meet, affordable food, advice and activities. With running costs rising and less unrestricted funding about, it asked for £1,000 towards staffing, utilities and insurance. McConnell paid the full amount.

Two men holding a large McConnell cheque for one thousand pounds made out to The Tin Hat Centre
McConnell's £1,000 cheque for The Tin Hat Centre in Selston. Photo: supplied by East Midlands Combined County Authority

How a Rushcliffe group can use it

  • Post a request on the EMCCA Match My Project page: funding, volunteers, materials or expertise.
  • Or browse what firms are offering. EMCCA says suppliers can also post resources directly, and community groups can match against those.
  • Requests in this round-up ran from £508 of timber to £1,000 in cash, plus hours of volunteer time.

EMCCA publishes its news releases on its website.