The Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, Luke Campbell, established a £1 million community fund last summer, which has recently awarded a grant to a local grassroots football club where one of his sons is a player. The fund, intended to support projects making a "meaningful difference" in the region using taxpayer money, has distributed £30,000 across five projects since its inception.

Mr. Campbell, 38, a former Olympic boxer, was elected as the first Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire last May, representing the Reform UK party. One of his initial initiatives following his election was the creation of the Community Fund.

Among the five projects to receive funding, Hessle Rangers, a football club based in Mr. Campbell's hometown of Hull, was awarded £5,000. Residents have highlighted the connection, noting that one of the Mayor's three young sons plays for the club.

In response to questions regarding the grant, the Mayor's Office released a statement acknowledging that Mr. Campbell, as a local resident, "may sometimes be potential conflicts of interest." However, the statement clarified that the Mayor "doesn't decide which groups receive funding." A spokesperson for the office further affirmed that grants are issued to "clubs and organisations that have the necessary governance and accountability in place."

The Community Fund was set up nearly eight months ago with £1 million of public funds. To date, £30,000 has been disbursed across the five approved projects, including the recent award to Hessle Rangers.