Community projects awarded grants

Archived press release

Date Published: 31/10/08

The latest round of funding has supported five local projects

Community groups in Aylesbury Vale have benefited from a share of nearly £30,000 in grant money.

All the successful grant bids met the criteria laid down by Aylesbury Vale District Council for projects which will make a difference to many peoples lives.

The latest round of funding has supported five projects that will bring a range of benefits to local communities across the Vale.

Residents in Great Horwood will benefit from their first ever recreational space thanks to the hard work put in by the recently established Great Horwood and Singleborough Recreation Trust. An award of £10,500 towards the creation of this new community space will enable the purchase of specific play equipment to meet the needs of children and young people in the area as well as further groundworks to ensure the recreation area can be used for a range of different activities.

Hardwick Village Association needed £113,000 to carry out urgently required repairs to their local village hall and improve access to this widely-used community facility. Alongside a massive community fundraising effort, the council’s grant of £10,000 will enable much-needed structural work to take place.

Radclive-cum-Chackmore Parish Council received £5,500 towards the refurbishment of the parish hall to bring it up to modern standards. The council has identified a range of new activities, courses and events that can take place to benefit this rural community once the refurbishment works are completed.

Young people in Quainton will soon benefit from a new youth café. Quainton Parish Council was awarded £2,500 to establish this new facility in direct response to issues raised by young people in the local community.

And the Jigsaw Theatre Company received £800 towards a new tour of community venues, including sheltered accommodation for older people, across the Vale.

The funds awarded from the project grant scheme are given directly to local community groups of all sizes, to help them carry out key projects that they would otherwise not be able to do. Any constituted not-for profit group that wishes to carry out a project to benefit the local community may apply for a grant.

Councillor Pam Pearce, Cabinet Member for Community Matters, said: “It is wonderful to be able to support such worthwhile projects in the Vale where our grant is often the missing piece in the jigsaw to enable the project to go ahead. I would like to encourage other local organisations to apply as we still have funds available in this financial year to make further awards.”

Grants of up to £5,000 or 30 per cent of the cost of the project (whichever is the lower) are available. A limited number of larger grants are available for significant capital projects that can demonstrate a clear community need.

To request an application pack, email grants@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk or call 01296 585186.