£30,000 to help residents who need it most

More than £30,000 has been awarded to help Wokingham Borough residents of all ages experience enriching activities if they are living in hardship.

Six voluntary and charity organisations will share more than £7,500 from the Surviving Winter and Removing Barriers grants schemes.

Wokingham United Charities has also been awarded £25,000 from Wokingham Borough Council’s £250,000 Hardship Fund.

The charity will award and administer funding to lower income students to enjoy extra-curricular activities. It includes experiences such as school trips and after school clubs, or items such as musical instruments and specialist equipment.

How to apply

Should you wish to apply for this fund, please get in touch with Wokingham United Charities.

You can contact Wokingham United Charities on 0118 403 2980 or via email at grants@wokinghamunitedcharities.org.uk to request an application form.

Amy Garstang, manager at Wokingham United Charities, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Wokingham Borough Council to provide this initiative and funnel this funding to those who need it.

"School trips, clubs and other activities help young people make the most of the opportunities available to them through school.

“Young people shouldn’t have to miss out because of a financial situation they or their families often have no control over. This fund aims to bridge this gap, providing access to enriching activities that are integral to their growth and development.”

Hardship Fund making a difference

It’s the fourth project supported by the council’s £250,000 Hardship Fund.  

It follows the opening of the Roots Community Store, as well as projects to help with improving access to low/no cost uniform and a project to make the school day affordable for all have also been funded. These projects are informed by the borough’s Tackling Poverty Strategy.

Cllr Rachel Bishop-Firth, executive member for equalities, inclusion and fighting poverty, said: “We continue to invest our £250,000 Hardship Fund in projects which get to the root causes of poverty.

“This is another longer-term project which will open doors for those in our borough who might miss enriching, potentially life-changing, trips and activities.

"We’re delighted to be working with Wokingham United Charities on this project, which taps into its expertise and long-standing commitment to support residents in need across the area.”

Surviving Winter crowdfund

Recent funding rounds for two grant schemes to support residents with lower incomes have been awarded.

The Surviving Winter crowdfund grants scheme, in partnership with Berkshire Community Foundation has awarded more than £5,000 to three local groups.

These grants are being used to enable groups to fund their essential resources to secure services for their beneficiaries. Grants have been awarded to:

• £2,500 to The Woodland Centre Trust (Camp Mohawk) – support with running costs for its facilities, which help more than 600 families to access safe, suitable play facilities for children with additional needs
• £2,091.72 to Daisy’s Dream – cover heating costs for the charity’s new premises in Lower Earley, so it can continue to support hundreds of residents through bereavement through small group work with children, young people and families
• £520 to Hurst Bowling Club – cost of two dehumidifiers to keep the club’s clubhouse free of mould and damp for its 500 members

Thanks to community donations and match funding, almost £70,000 will be going to local organisations to help people with the cost of living.

Eleven organisations and more than £50,000 has now been awarded to support thousands of residents across the borough.

Removing Barriers Grants

Meanwhile, the council’s Removing Barriers Grants scheme has seen £2,250 awarded to three sports organisations.

It will help open each group’s services to those who are struggling financially. £750 each was awarded to:

• Sport Together Berkshire – subsidised attendance to events for low income disabled residents
• Berkshire Banshees Wheelchair Rugby – travel and accommodation support for fixtures and competitions
• Emmbrook and Bearwood Cricket Club – membership grants for children from low income backgrounds

This is supported through the council’s Hardship Fund, which is helping deliver the borough’s Tackling Poverty Strategy. This money is being used remove barriers to full participation in community life for those living on low incomes. It follows six organisations receiving similar support late last year.

Cllr Bishop-Firth added: “Smaller grants to local voluntary and community groups means we get huge value from these investments in various community schemes. Both these schemes will help us have a lasting positive impact on the lives of hundreds of residents.

“Being able to access and choose the activities and support residents use help them make the most of their lives – be it music, arts, sports or something else.”

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