Archived press release

Date Published: 04/02/08

Six community groups are to benefit from cash windfalls to help them realise their ambitions, thanks to grant assistance from Aylesbury Vale’s Community Chest fund. These latest awards bring the total number of organisations supported by th...

Six community groups are to benefit from cash windfalls to help them realise their ambitions, thanks to grant assistance from Aylesbury Vale’s Community Chest fund.

These latest awards bring the total number of organisations supported by the scheme to 60 since it was launched in June 2007, with the total value of the grants in excess of £225,000.

The Community Chest, which is run jointly by Aylesbury Vale District Council and the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust, provides funding to assist projects that will benefit the community and improve the quality of life for residents in the district.

The successful applications in this latest round of Community Chest micro grants included £1,000 awarded to the Maids Moreton Pre-School Playgroup to set up a gardening and healthy eating project for young children. The playgroup will use their grant to help purchase a greenhouse and gardening tools and equipment to enable the children to grow fruit and vegetables, raise plants for the flower garden and grow wildflowers for the neighbouring conservation area.

Aston Abbotts Parish Council is to use the £1,000 it received to clear an area of unused scrubland adjacent to the local recreation ground. The parish council is aiming to incorporate this area into the recreation ground and will install picnic benches once the land has been cleared.

Wendover Choral Society received £810 to cover their room hire costs for a full year of rehearsals at John Colet School. The group is planning to build links with the school and attract some younger members to the choir.

Chiltern Woodlands Project has been awarded £700 towards the cost of the ‘Woods at Work’ event at Wendover Woods on 20 April. The event aims to raise awareness and interest in local timber products and will include demonstrations and information on woodland wildlife and conservation.

The Friarscroft Multi-Cultural Centre has been given a £1,000 grant to purchase a new cooker and the Aylesbury-based Time Out for Seniors (TOFS) group will use their £550 to purchase additional catering equipment which is needed due to increased membership.

Community and voluntary groups can apply for a micro-grant of up to £1,000, which can be applied for at any time, or a project grant of up to £25,000, which is reviewed quarterly.  To be eligible to apply, groups must be formally constituted, not-for-profit and operate within Aylesbury Vale, for the benefit of local residents or visitors to the area.

Councillor Pam Pearce, Cabinet Member for Community Matters at AVDC, said: “It’s wonderful to see such a diverse range of Aylesbury Vale groups benefiting from small grants. I would urge all local groups who are looking for funding for specific projects or events or who just need help with their general running costs to contact us for funding advice.”

Matthew Applegate, Chief Executive of VAHT, said: “The £1,000 micro grants, in particular, have proven very beneficial to a variety of seasonal and smaller one off projects that might otherwise struggle to find funding.  It is extremely pleasing to see the number of these awards grow as often these are the very types of activities that are at the heart of a vibrant community.”

For more information about Community Chest grants, call AVDC on 01296 585634 or email communitychest@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk