Thomley Activity Centre children benefit from 200th grant award
Archived press release
Date Published: 18/11/09
The Aylesbury Vale Community Chest has reached another major milestone – the award of its 200th grant.
The £5 million grant fund, set up to help voluntary and community groups improve lives in local communities, has reached this significant landmark in just two-and-a-half years.
Thomley Activity Centre in Worminghall is the happy recipient of the 200th Community Chest grant. To mark the occasion the centre for disabled children will be holding a cake-cutting ceremony and auction during its annual Christmas craft fair on 21 November.
The Community Chest provided a £16,000 grant which will help the centre cover ongoing running costs. Over 200 children from Aylesbury Vale have benefited greatly from its help and support this year alone.
The centre, recently featured on BBC's The One Show, caters for the needs of families with disabled children and siblings up to the age of 16 years. It provides a safe environment for them to take part in recreational and sports activities together to help build self esteem, health and confidence. It also offers a forum for parents to share experiences and to learn how they can support their children in the best way possible.
Councillor Kevin McPartland, Chairman of the Community Chest Grants Panel, said: “We are extremely pleased that the Community Chest grant scheme has helped make significant improvements to the lives of our local communities. Apart from being the 200th grant recipient, the Thomley Activity Centre is in a class of one providing such a wonderful safe place for children to play and express themselves. I am very impressed by the staff and volunteers at the centre, who are an incredibly hard working and dedicated team.”
Thomley’s Director, Claire Acworth, said: “We are extremely grateful to the Community Chest for subsidising the costs for disabled children and their families from Aylesbury Vale to visit the centre and to join in a wide range of fun, creative, sensory and physical activities. The joy of Thomley is to see disabled children make new friends, grow in confidence and ability, and to know that families enjoy our relaxing and supportive environment.”
The Aylesbury Vale Community Chest is run jointly by Aylesbury Vale District Council and the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust. Since June 2007, over £1 million has been awarded to more than 180 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 application needs to demonstrate local need and involvement plus the benefit to the community.
The deadline for the next round of project grants is 11 December. 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