Warwickshire News Mine

14 community and voluntary groups are celebrating after the county’s North Warwickshire area committee granted funds of over £22,000 from its Community Development Fund to provide ‘new opportunities for local people, particularly those who experience disadvantage or exclusion from mainstream activities.’

North Warwickshire’s committee receive 31 applications, more than any other committee in the county following the success of 12 community groups last year, including pre-school groups, sporting groups for young people and schools projects, who received grants of up to £3,500.

This year’s fund was widely publicised via a partnership of county councillors, community development workers from the community sector, officers from the borough council, area fora, the local libraries and mobile library.

Eligibility depended on various criteria.  These stipulated that application s must provide new opportunities of lasting benefit for local people or develop the capacity of local people to run their own projects.  Applications could not total more than £5000 and had to be led by a community or voluntary organisation and supported by a county councillor.

Among the projects who have successfully applied for funds this year, five will support village hall committees in upgrading their facilities and attracting more user groups, three pre-schools will benefit, a local residents association will receive training and a young women’s group has received money enabling it to be established.

Councillor Ray Sweet, chair of the North Warwickshire Area Committee, said:  “We are delighted to be able to support so many worthy schemes.  We have a set amount of money so the selection process demands that only projects that most fulfil the needs of the local communities can be considered.

“I am confident that we have made the community development fund go a long way towards creating and sustaining projects that will have maximum benefit for the diverse communities of North Warwickshire.”

Brief outline of community projects to be funded:

No Mans Heath Village Hall Pin Polesworth have been awarded £1,158.16 as match funding for a successful bid to North Warwickshire Borough Council to upgrade the building and furnishings and improve safety and comfort.

The Friends of Atherstone Heritage have received an award to transfer the knowledge of Atherstone and surrounding villages’ heritage onto a website.

The Links Daycare Centre in Hartshill will use a grant to purchase storage shed, new equipment and skip hire for group which feeds Nathaniel Newton School.

Baddesley Village Hall Committee will receive a contribution towards providing full set of new tables and chairs.

Ansley Church Hall Committee will be able to afford materials and labour for new floor.

Warton pre-school nursery in Baddesley can now create a separate quiet area for children.

Middleton recreation room in Water Orton will now be able to improve the surface of the well used main meeting room’s floor.

Car-Go-Bus Community Transport in Atherstone will receive funding for materials and labour and equipment for new training/meeting room.

Phoenix Group in Coleshill will receive funds for the purchase of two scooters to increase mobility of disabled sufferers.

Hartshill Allotment Society will be given money to both fund a JCB to remove dangerous structure and provide ten new sheds.

White Wood Leigh Residents Association in Hartshill will receive a grant to support training of committee and members of group to enable group to be self sustaining.

Little Ted’s Playground in Arley will be give funds for additional equipment for safe play.

The Ley Group Young People’s Project will receive some money for residentials, travel and rent for setting up a young woman’s group.

Maxstoke Village Hall Committee in Coleshill will receive funds for kitchen equipment.

Link to WCC