‘Join in, have fun’: Town Hall offers £500 grants for community coronation parties

King Charles, pictured in 2012 when he was Prince of Wales. Photograph: Wikicommons

Residents can get a £500 boost towards parties marking the coronation of King Charles III.

Town Hall bosses have set aside £33,000 for local groups to celebrate the ceremony on Saturday 6 May.

Monday 8 May has been declared a bank holiday.

People need to apply by Friday 31 March for funds to help stage a right royal knees-up.

The money cannot be given to individuals and applications need to include details of the estimated cost and number of people likely to attend, and how the event will be promoted in the community.

Other matters to be addressed include whether organisers have public liability insurance and if any caterers have food hygiene certificates, as well as details of planned activities and music.

Cllr Una O’Halloran, executive member for community development, said: “The coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort is a wonderful opportunity for Islington’s communities to come together, whether that’s with a street party, a tea dance, or any other kind of celebration.”

She added: “Sharing food and having fun is a way of really getting to know your neighbours and breaking down barriers of loneliness. We welcome applications for funding from right across our community so that everyone in Islington will be able to join in, have fun and celebrate what makes our borough such a special place.”

People should contact partnerships@islington.gov.uk for details and application forms.

Across Islington, people held parties to mark Queen Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee last June, with many side streets closed to traffic for a few hours.

Celebrations included picnics, cream teas, street parties, bake-offs, cute cat contests, and a women’s football tournament.

Neighbours who would like to get their street closed to traffic need to apply at least two weeks before their street party.

The new monarch has asked people to roll up their sleeves and get involved with their community in a nationwide event called the Big Help Out on the Bank Holiday Monday.