Almost £9,000 awarded to organisations 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.

Surviving Winter Fund awards

This was match funded 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

More than £40,000 was awarded from the Surviving Winter Fund earlier this year to six organisations.

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 23 January deadline.

Removing Barriers Grant awards

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

£8,000 is being made available for small community groups to apply for £500.

This money is being used remove barriers to full participation in community life for those living on low incomes. £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 early in 2024, to help distribute the £4,500 left in the pot.

'This will go a really long way because of our partners'

Cllr Rachel Bishop-Firth, executive member for equalities, inclusion and fighting poverty, 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.

"Our partners across the voluntary sector will make this funding go a really long way, ensuring our residents are getting the help they need.

“Many of these grant awards support people doing the things they enjoy, helping them be part of our communities and connect with others.

"These grants help battle extreme isolation and long-term health problems while supporting residents to live full, happy lives – whatever their situation.”

Strategy to help people in the long term

These projects are informed by the borough’s Tackling Poverty Strategy.

This strategy aims to support people out of poverty, strengthen community resilience to prevent people falling into poverty and improving life opportunities for those living in poverty. 

All the latest cost of living help and advice for the borough can be found on the cost of living help hub.

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