Rotherham Council launches £500 grant scheme for people to put up more flags
Under the scheme local community groups and town councils will be able to get cash to put up flagpoles
Last updated 6th Feb 2026
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council has launched a small grants scheme to help community groups install flagpoles and fly national flags at buildings and land in their use.
Under the scheme, eligible town, parish and community councils, as well as community groups with a fixed base in the borough, can apply for up to £500 to cover the cost of buying and installing a flagpole and either a Union flag, a St George’s flag, or both.
The decision was approved by the council’s executive director for corporate services, Judith Badger, under delegated powers, and published on Wednesday, February 5.
The council said the scheme is intended to promote community pride and provide visible symbols of national identity and heritage across Rotherham.
Groups will need to pay for the flagpole, flag and installation upfront, with costs reimbursed once a valid application and receipts have been submitted. The funding will cover purchase and installation costs.
Applicants must own or lease the building or land where the flagpole is installed and will be responsible for ongoing maintenance, replacement, safety checks and any planning requirements linked to the installation.
Applications will be open to groups across the borough and must be submitted through an online process on the council’s website. The deadline for applications, including supporting receipts, is June 30, 2026.
Council officers said alternative options were considered, including allowing funding for any type of flag, but the final decision was to limit the scheme to the Union flag and St George’s flag, which they said best met the aims of the programme.