Projects
Projects that build stronger communities, prevent crime, develop social responsibility, give purpose to the young, and assist the disadvantaged – these are the Fund’s priorities. The scheme was launched in November 2007 and already, we are matching projects to contributors:
HUB 199
Hub 119 works with children in Camp Hill, Warwickshire’s only entry in the UK’s ‘top 5% most deprived wards’. The group runs out-of-school activities that help young people develop life skills, adopt a good diet, become more health-conscious, increase confidence, and ultimately reduce anti social behaviour & crime. They requested £4,945 for a year-long arts and crafts project. The children were consulted on their preferred activities, and asked to hold an exhibition at the project’s end. The High Sheriff’s Warwickshire Fund contributed £2,445 and the remaining £2,500 was donated by the 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust.
LUDDINGTON VILLAGE HALL
Luddington is a rural village 5 miles outside Stratford upon Avon. It has few facilities. Farming is the main industry. The village hall is vital to maintain community cohesion, but it needed a new fire door and other works essential to comply with fire, health & safety costing £2,000. They were awarded half from the AGCO donation into the High Sheriff’s Warwickshire Fund, and half from Heart of England Community Foundation’s own Fund. Thanks to the Fund, they now have a safe and secure exit.
ALZHEIMER'S SOCIETY
This organisation started a monthly café in Rugby primarily aimed at people with Alzheimer's disease, and other mental illnesses and disabilities. The start-up cost of £1,895 was partly funded through the High Sheriff’s Warwickshire Fund, and partly by housing construction company Keepmoat plc.
Its launch at Age Concern on 23rd June was attended by 50 people. Every month, the café attracts at least 30 users - people with dementia, their carers, and family/friends – at informal sessions which are often also attended by guest speakers. The numbers are increasing as its popularity grows.
The group is delighted with the success of the café. Jill Perry, who runs it, said:
“Feedback from guests and professionals alike is very positive. It is remarkable what a difference the two-hour café meeting makes to people, particularly carers who can attend with the person they care for in a happy, relaxed atmosphere, and gain information, informal support from professionals, and friendship with other people in the same boat.”
STUDLEY PARISH CENTRE: £600
Studley, in the far west of the county, is a rural parish facing huge development pressures and yet managing to keep its local focus.
They have a popular parish community centre, used by many groups including 3 age groups of girl-guides.
The centre’s wooden sheds were no longer adequate to store Brownies’ and Rainbow Guides’ equipment, or the village fete’s tents, being small and increasingly prone to leaks. They were given £600 to replace them from the High Sheriff’s Warwickshire Fund which will be associated with the donation from Severn Trent Water.
PASTELS DAY CENTRE LTD
Pastel’s B.I.K.E (Building in Kare for Everyone) was given £950 for a project to collect, restore and re-use bicycles to provide transport for young people. The young people will be involved in the project by learning how to restore and maintain the bicycles and eventually to help others do the same. The project hopes to grow and be sustainable as the restored bikes will be rented out to young people for £4 per month.
BACK2SCHOOL CLUB
This Leamington Spa project, awarded a grant of £350, had three aims for its young participants;
- To recognise that doing something positive that benefits the community will divert them away from getting involved with anti social behaviour
- To make the community safer and more pleasant by cleaning up the environment.
- To raise awareness of the dangers of dumping rubbish in the river and playing around by the river
Canoe-ists and fishermen were especially pleased to have this natural resource returned to a beautiful state. And not only did the group clean up the river, but they also publicised the project, and its impact, at the Coventry Peace Festival.
MY MUG, MY PLATE: £470
The Sikh Community Centre in Leamington ran a summer programme for young people and as part of that, were awarded a grant to fund the design and production of mugs and plates. Participants reported that the best bits were using the computer to design. Some of the mugs were sold to people in the local community which raised the profile of the group and made older group members more aware of what young people can contribute.
