First community ideas win cash from Local Fund
THE first ideas to receive funding from Stockport Local Fund to make the community a better place to live have been announced.
Applicants who applied for less than £500 have been selected and a healthy eating group for children, a luncheon club for the elderly, a tag rugby squad for the disabled and a programme supporting victims of domestic abuse are among the winners. Almost £4,000 of funding is being awarded to smaller projects, one of which is a project which aims to equip all children in Year 6 at Westmorland Primary School in Brinnington with basic cooking skills, including making healthy packed lunches and home-made meals for four people.
Project organiser Linda Mullins said: “These lessons will fill a gap in the children’s education by giving basic cooking lessons and skills suitable for a 10-year-old child.”
The Luncheon Club at Marple United Reformed Church will also receive a cut of the funding.
The club has run each Monday and Friday for 20 years, with an average of 15 to 20 people attending each week. It depends on volunteers and grants, so the Stockport Local Fund money will be used to help to maintain rental payments.
Organiser Bill Riley said: “This is not just about a home-cooked meal. It’s a safe, welcoming, friendly and stimulating environment for older members of the local community.”
The Owls (Ongoing Women’s Local Support) Group, supporting women who have survived or who are currently experiencing domestic abuse, will use its share of the money to deliver The Freedom Programme, which examines the beliefs and actions of abusers and the responses of victims and survivors, to help them understand what has happened.
Stockport RUFC All Stars will get a share of the money as well, so the group, which runs a tag rugby team for youngsters with disabilities, can hire an indoor sports facility for use during winter.
Coun Elise Wilson, cabinet member for reform and governance at Stockport council, said: “This fund is all about supporting people within our communities who have ideas that will benefit their neighbourhoods.
“These are great examples of how a small investment can help projects that make a real difference locally. We look forwards to seeing them grow.”
The awards of funding over £500 will be announced in November.