Basingstoke community organisations given cash boost

More than 20 community and voluntary groups across the borough are now benefitting from £188,000 of funding from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to strengthen their organisations.

The borough council’s Strengthening Communities Grant Scheme is designed to support groups to become more resilient and drive innovation to meet communities’ needs.

Cabinet Member for Communities, Partnerships and Inclusion Cllr John McKay said:

“It is really pleasing to see such a wide breadth of groups and organisations from across the borough coming forward to benefit from funding that will support them to deliver vital services and activities to our residents. For our communities to thrive it is important we support these groups and help them to adapt for the future to ensure their work continues to meet their community’s needs.

“I look forward to seeing these projects happening and having a positive impact on our communities across the borough.”

Successful applicants

St Michael’s Hospice has been awarded £13,500 to launch a new volunteer ambassadors’ programme, enhance awareness of the hospice’s services, increase community involvement and establish partnerships.

The Basingstoke and District Disability Forum will benefit from £15,000 to recruit a temporary fundraising coordinator to create a fundraising programme and £14,600 has been awarded to the Community Furniture Project to upskill staff and volunteers and increase working hours.

More local mothers will be trained as breastfeeding counsellors thanks to funding of £9,650 awarded to North Hants Breastfeeding Counsellors and Cruse Bereavement Support will be able to recruit and train four new bereavement volunteers to provide free specialist one-to-one group support for residents with funding of £3,570.

Westside Community Association can now create a new co-ordinator post to develop activities and services for the families, children and young people in Buckskin, thanks to a grant of £15,000. Tadley and District Community Association will look to improve the community centre’s online presence and better market the centre to generate more income with funding of £6,000.

Kingsclere Community Association will use its £4,000 grant to improve promotion of the Fieldgate Centre to increase income from hires, recruit additional volunteers and raise awareness of activities taking place. Melrose Community Centre will also look to recruit new volunteers, find new income streams and develop community projects with its £3,040 grant.

In support of the council’s climate emergency declaration, Test Source Community Energy, Calleva Community Energy and Loddon Community Energy will work together using a £17,000 grant to launch and promote community-owned projects to residents and businesses that generate renewable zero-emission energy.

For more information and to see the full list of successful applicants visit www.basingstoke.gov.uk/funding