Grants awarded to support residents

ALMOST £9,000 in grants has been issued to ten organisations in Wokingham Borough to support residents struggling with the cost of living.

Three groups have received more than £5,000 from the Surviving Winter Fund, in partnership with Berkshire Community Foundation and Wokingham United Charities.

Seven others have also been supported through the Removing Barriers Grants scheme, with £3,500 handed out. The Surviving Winter Fund is paid for thanks to crowdfunding donations by residents earlier this year.

This was matched by Wokingham Borough Council and Wokingham United Charities. Funding went to:

■ £2,000 to Kaleidoscopic UK to part-fund family food hampers to support 90 people this Christmas who have been impacted by domestic abuse

■ £900 to 2nd Woodley Scout Group to help with utility costs to run sessions supporting 50 young people each week

■ £2,470 to Home-Start

Wokingham District to support its Giving Children a Better Start project, supporting home visiting services to vulnerable families across the borough

Berkshire Community Foundation has just opened another round for applications, for up to £2,500 per organisation. Apply on the Surviving Winter applications page before the January 23 deadline.

The Removing Barriers Grants are supported through Wokingham Borough Council’s £250,000 Hardship Fund, which delivers the borough’s Tackling Poverty Strategy.

A total of £8,000 is being made available for small community groups to apply for £500. This money is being to used remove barriers to full participation in community life for those living on low incomes.

A total of £3,500 has been awarded in £500 grants to:

■ Me2Club – supporting more than 100 children with disabilities to take part in leisure activities.

■ Twyford District Youth and Community Centre – a day out for at least 30 young people who would otherwise not be able to take part.

■ Woodley Lunch Bunch – travel support for families to events where they are not supported by public transport.

■ Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity – supporting access to leisure activities for children.

■ The Link Visiting Scheme – transport costs to attend events for people in rural communities.

■ Pinewood Football Club – discounted club memberships for children from low income families.

■ Berkshire Youth (Wokingham Young Carers Service) – helping cover travel costs for young carers.

Another round of the Removing Barriers Grants scheme will open next year, to help distribute £4,500.

Cllr Rachel Bishop-Firth, executive member for equalities, inclusion and fighting poverty at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “These grants will help make a difference to the families who are struggling most with the massive impacts of the higher cost of living."

■ The latest cost of living help and advice for the borough can be found on the cost of living help hub via Wokingham Borough Council’s website, www. wokingham.gov.uk