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Council awards £10,000 community grants to local groups

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Christchurch is buzzing with excitement as 15 local organisations have been awarded vital funding through the annual Community Grants program, helping to bring transformative projects and initiatives to life.

The Christchurch Community Grants Working Group convened on October 23, 2024, to review applications for the annual allocation of funds aimed at supporting local initiatives.

A total of 21 applications were submitted, and each was carefully assessed against specific criteria to ensure fair and impactful distribution of the grants. The Working Group evaluated the financial standing of each applicant, ensuring the funds would provide meaningful support to those in need.

Eligibility requirements were reviewed to confirm alignment with the program’s purpose and scope, while the intended use of the grant funds was scrutinized to gauge how well the proposed projects aligned with community objectives and their potential for long-term impact.

The result of this thorough process was the allocation of the full £10,000 budgeted for the 2024/25 financial year, distributed among 15 deserving organizations. These groups represent a wide range of community efforts, from supporting vulnerable populations to fostering cultural and recreational activities.

Grants Awarded

– Bournemouth Above and Beyond: £400 for 10 weeks of food and hot beverage supplies and a gas bottle refill to support wellbeing sessions for veterans and their families.

– Christchurch Carnival: £1,000 to help cover annual running costs, which total approximately £13,000.

– Christchurch Community Partnership: £1,000 to fund the ‘Eradication of Social Isolation’ project and a six-month trial of a bus buddy service.

– Christchurch Guides: £850 to purchase tents and camping cookware for outdoor activities.

– Christchurch Life Saving Club: £1,000 to update life-saving equipment and improve clubhouse facilities.

– Friends of Druitt Gardens: £600 to purchase a projector and accessories for community talks.

– National Coastwatch Institute: £500 to install a high-powered PTZ (Pan/Tilt/Zoom) camera.

– Highcliffe Charity Players: £500 to contribute towards the cost of a costume for the Goldilocks and the Three Bears pantomime.

– Honeypot Children’s Charity: £500 to provide a residential break for two young carers and gifts for 15 local young carers.

– Life Education Wessex & Thames Valley: £400 to support health and well-being education for children in local schools.

– Mudeford Cricket Club: £500 to purchase equipment for youth players.

– Mudeford Guide Hall: £1,000 to cover running costs, including insurance and safety checks.

– Park Yoga: £250 to fund a yoga instructor for 20 summer weeks.

– Prama Life: £500 to support dementia and carers’ support groups in Christchurch.

– The Phoenix Widowers’ Group: £1,000 to assist with running costs, including hall hire and insurance.

A Collective Step Forward

The distribution of these community grants underscores Christchurch’s commitment to fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive environment. By empowering a variety of projects and groups, the funding will touch the lives of residents across the community, from young carers to seniors, from cultural enthusiasts to outdoor adventurers.

This year’s awards not only reflect the diversity of the Christchurch community but also its shared vision of progress and connection.