A UTTOXETER charity supporting people with mental health issues and a holiday club for children with special needs are set to benefit from a share of £244,000.
The Art and Soul Friendship Group and Rakemark Respite Holiday Club are among the 28 community and voluntary groups which will benefit from East Staffordshire Borough Council’s grant aid, which will help them carry on their vital work.
The money is from the Grant Aid scheme, which is available to voluntary and community organisations that provide services and support to the residents of East Staffordshire.
The amount awarded through Grant Aid has increased by £6,120 in comparison with 2012/13, and six more organisations are being funded in 2013/14 than in 2012/13.
A record number of applications were received this year for Grant Aid funding, and each project was evaluated across a range of factors including the described need and benefit of the project to East Staffordshire’s communities and the evidence and data provided to support the application.
Council leader Councillor Richard Grosvenor said: “Whilst other authorities have had to cut back on the funding given to local community groups we have actually increased the amount we are able to give out and increased the amount of organisations who receive this funding.
“These dedicated groups of people, most of whom volunteer their time and skills, provide valuable and sometimes essential services to people in East Staffordshire and I am very proud that we are able to help more groups than ever achieve their goals and provide a valuable service to the community.”
Chief executive Andy O’Brien said: “Funding community and voluntary organisations through Grant Aid is an important part of the council’s work with the third and voluntary sector. These organisations provide essential services to a wide variety of residents and we are pleased we can offer increased financial support during these times of economic austerity.”
The other successful organisations are; Age UK Burton, Burton Albion Community Trust, Burton MIND, Burton and District YMCA, Burton Caribbean Association, Burton Youth for Christ, CREST, Derbyshire Dales Careline, East Staffordshire CAB, East Staffordshire CVS, East Staffordshire Rights and Equality Council, Harvey Girls, Home Start East Staffordshire, Katharine House Hospice, Princess Street Training, Education and Enterprise Centre, Pulse for Music, Re-Solv, SARAC, SCALE, Vitalise, Branston Community Fun Day, the Community Learning Centre, Donna Louise Children’s Hospice Trust, Harmony Group, the Friends of Burton Wurlitzer and the PBC Foundation.
