Money Available for Charities!
| Published: 20th November 2008 22:27 |
Run jointly by Aylesbury Vale District Council and the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust, the Community Chest was established to help voluntary and community organisations provide or improve services and community facilities for the benefit of everyone living in the Vale. In the past 18 months, nearly 90 organisations have benefited from grants.
Two types of grant can be applied for:
• A micro grant of up to £1,000, which can be applied for at any time, or;
• A project grant of up to £25,000, which are awarded three times a year.
The money can be used for a range of community purposes including new equipment for groups, paying for volunteers' training or giving your local village hall a lick of paint.
To be successful, each project needs to demonstrate local need, community involvement and benefit in their application.
Debbie La Haye, who received a project grant on behalf of Horses Helping People, said: "Applying for the grant was not difficult. The money provided us with funds to buy ‘Bilbo' and sponsor places for clients who would like to benefit from our services, but could not otherwise afford them. We are truly appreciative of our grant as it has allowed us to provide additional places more quickly."
Grants totalling £86,200 were awarded during the last round of funding. Amongst the seven organisations who will benefit from these grants are:
• Aylesbury Vale Dial-a-Ride, who bid for a new minibus to provide more reliable transport for disabled and disadvantaged people;
• The Low Impact Living Initiative in Winslow, who are expanding their eco-building training courses and publications - the grant will pay for materials to convert stables into a new office using sustainable building techniques and volunteer labour;
• A team of volunteers from Buckingham who are planning to open a tearoom, bookshop, community meeting room and gallery space in Buckingham Chantry Chapel. The funding will enable them to install bookshelves, a kitchen and accessible toilet facilities.
The deadline for the next round of project grants is 5 December. Microgrants continue to be reviewed each month.
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
Bilbo, a six year old Quarter Horse, bought with part of their Community Chest grant,
is seen here being put through his paces by Dave Johnson from Horses Helping People.
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