Community Chest fund celebrates a milestone moment

Archived press release

Date Published: 13/05/09

Don Tregartha and the 1st Wing Beaver Colony receive their funding plaque

A £5 million grants fund set up two years ago to help voluntary and community groups in Aylesbury Vale has hit a new milestone.

The Aylesbury Vale Community Chest has now awarded more than 100 ‘micro-grants’ to projects that help make life better in the community.

The grants, of up to £1,000, have been spent on a wide variety of projects, from providing equipment for local community groups, to projects that help some of the most disadvantaged people in the Vale.

The 1st Wing Scout Group were the enthusiastic recipients of the 100th micro-grant, which they used to purchase a brand new, easier to clean floor covering for the local scout hut.

The Community Chest grants panel provided a £1,000 grant to help fund the new vinyl flooring, and their generosity was matched by the time and effort put in by the Scout leaders and parents to remove the old carpet surface.

Don Tregartha, Group Scout Leader, said: “The Community Chest grant helped us make a much needed improvement to the facilities at 1st Wing without reducing the funds we have available to deliver an exciting programme of activities for the young people in the area.”

The Aylesbury Vale Community Chest is run jointly by Aylesbury Vale District Council and the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust. Since June 2007, over £950,000 has been awarded to more than 160 local organisations.

Two types of grant can be applied for: micro-grants of up to £1,000, which are awarded monthly, or project grants of up to £25,000, which are awarded three times a year. To be successful, each project needs to demonstrate local need, community involvement and benefit in their application.

Roger Lowe, Grants Panel Chairman, said: “Seeing the advantages the award of a Community Chest grant can make, is a privilege myself and the panel have been able to see first hand. In the Scout’s case, I was personally able to witness how the 100th micro-grant has made a major difference. They now have a floor that will give them – and all the other hall users – many years of service.”

The deadline for the next round of project grants is 17 July. If you would like more information on how to apply for a grant please see www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/community-living, call the grants team on 01296 585634 or email communitychest@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk