Winchester City Council gives a helping hand to community groups
Winchester City Council’s ever-popular Small Grants Scheme continues to provide crucial support for voluntary and community groups in the District. This year – not surprisingly, given the economic climate - the scheme has attracted an unprecedented number of applications.
The grant applications received were interesting and varied, and gave an overwhelming sense of community spirit within Winchester. Allocations to a total of £10,000 have now been approved by the City Council, and will help to fund a range of activities, pieces of equipment, publicity and other essentials
Councillor John Cooper, Winchester's Deputy Leader who oversees the Council's grants programmes, said,
When the Council deliberated on the future of community grants this time last year, I fought strongly to retain them. The Small Grants Programme which we are currently allocating has proved a lifeline over the years for our voluntary associations, who often just need a helping hand. Awards range from £200 to 500, and this year we have been able to help more than 30 local groups carrying out a variety of excellent projects".
He added,
These may only be relatively small amounts, but they help to make a lot of good things happen. Take, for example, an award which will mean free access to a holiday play scheme for a child from a low income family living in Winnall. The Winchester City Penguins Swimming Club was able to offer free swimming lessons to pupils in Winnall and Stanmore. Or the amounts we give to support the health and wellbeing of older people in our community. When the newspapers are full of stories about budget cuts it is especially nice for the Council to be able to do something locally that isn't more doom and gloom".
It is hoped that Winchester City Council is planning to run the Small Grants Programme again in 2012/2013, subject to final Council approval of the budget in March. This will be important in a year when so many local groups will be keen to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Information about the programme can be found by following the ‘grants’ tab on the City Council’s website (www.winchester.gov.uk).
If you require further information on Winchester City Council grants programmes please contact Eloise Appleby, Assistant Director, on 01962 848 181 or email eappleby@winchester.gov.uk