Bumper year for councillor grants helping local good causes - here’s who benefitted

Each elected member has had a Ward Member Grant - increased to £1,000 each during the current financial year to help counter the effects of Coronavirus on local communities.

The scheme was launched in 2018 to help get much-needed local funding directly to the groups that need it with the minimum of fuss and “red tape”.

Council Leader Coun Kelham Cooke said: “Our elected members have a unique knowledge of groups operating in their local area to support their community.

“This scheme aims to encourage community-led initiatives, supported by local councillors, who will play an active part in helping their communities deliver some real, important and often pressing ambitions.”

Coun Paul Wood, Leader of the Independent Group, said: “I am very pleased that SKDC is continuing with the Ward Member Grant scheme because this allows each member the opportunity the support local organisations in their ward which can make a vital difference. I campaigned for SKDC to introduce this scheme because it is a vital link with the community.”

Labour Group Leader Coun Charmaine Morgan said: “Ward Member Grants provide an important opportunity for councillors to engage with community groups, providing much needed support. The Ward Member Grant is easy to apply for and is especially helpful for smaller groups. It is important SKDC continues this grant scheme, as more and more people turn to local organisations for help.”

Councillors can split their allocation so that a range of causes can be supported by a single member. The councillors can also pool their allocated budgets to jointly fund a specific project.

During 2020-21, money has been awarded to a wide variety of organisations including registered charities, community groups, voluntary groups, social enterprises, youth groups and faith or belief groups.

The good causes must be within South Kesteven and deliver projects that benefit to the people, the environment and the local community.

In the Peterborough area, over the past year, Coun Ashley Baxter gave £333.34 to Deepings Round Table towards food parcels during Covid Lockdown and £570 to Deepings Age Concern to provide afternoon tea to residents in the Deepings between December and March.

Coun Barry Dobson gave £500 to Thurlby Parochial Church Council to support the Thurlby & Northorpe Village Link parish magazine during the pandemic and £500 to Thurlby Parish Council to enhance the villages of Northorpe & Thurlby by purchasing and installing new litter bins and flower tubs including plants.

Coun Bob Broughton awarded £330 to Deepings Business Support Group to help local businesses during lockdown and £670 to Deepings United FC to support the women’s team who needed new equipment, first aid kits, training bibs and goalkeeper training equipment.

Coun Breda Griffin gave £750 to Stamford Methodist Church towards refurbishing the kitchen to provide cooked meals to Stamford residents and £250 to Stamford in Bloom to plant two new large containers and three new boxes in prime locations in Stamford.

Coun Gloria Johnson awarded £500 to the Essex Road Resident Association in Stamford to buy two replacement bench seats in the garden area at the rear of the complex and gave £500 to St George’s CofE Primary School for outdoor group mats.

Coun Harrish Bisnauthsing gave £200 to Stamford Anti-Racism Group towards making a collaborative cookbook of 30 recipes.

Councillors Jill Thomas and Judy Stevens each gave £330 to Deepings Business Support Group to support local businesses during the pandemic lockdown and each gave £330 to Exotic Pet Refuge to su-pport it during lockdown.

Coun Phil Dilks gave Deepings Round Table £333.33 towards food parcels handed out during Covid lockdown.

Coun Rosemary Trollope- Bellew awarded £500 to Uffington Village Hall to commission a Stamford artist to do a sketch of the icons of Uffington as part of the new archive and gave £500 to Greatford Parish Council to install a children’s slide on Greatford Playing Field.

Coun Sue Woolley awarded £1,000 to New Day Baptist Church in Morton, near Bourne for the Your Youth Club to purchase high visability distinctive clothing.

Coun Susan Sandall gave £500 to Art Pop-Up scheme, towards cleaning and maintenance of unkept windows, plus the cost of vinyls and installation. She also gave £500 towards refurbishment of the kitchen at Stamford Methodist Church to provide cooked meals to Stamford residents.

Coun Virginia Moran awarded £333.33 to Deepings Round Table towards food parcels during lockdown.