County Council Cash Boost for Communities
A windfall of more than a quarter of a million pounds is heading to community groups from the latest round of Worcestershire County Council's Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) grants scheme.In Worcester City, Worcester Afro Caribbean Society will receive £1,000 and Worcester Snoezlan will receive £926 from the Celebrating Diversity category, while the Gheluvelt Park Friends, Worcester Snoezlan and Sight Concern will each receive £500 from the First Base Arts Grants fund.
In the Wyre Forest area, Bewdley Youth Café has been awarded £1,000 and Wyre Forest LAFS (Learn, Achieve, Fun, Socialise) will receive a £900 grant, both from the Celebrating Diversity fund.
Around Malvern, The charity EIL UK, which specialises in increasing cultural awareness and understanding, will receive £1,000 from the Celebrating Diversity fund, while Malvern Son et Lumiere is set for a £500 grant from the First Base Arts Grants.
£1,350 has been awarded to Bromsgrove-based projects. EPIC Community Interest Company will receive £850 from the Celebrating Diversity fund, while New Song Community Church is set for a £500 boost from the First Base Arts Grants.
A total of £233,176 has been awarded to community groups throughout Worcestershire, including a major £225,000 three-year grant to the Worcester-based charity Youth Support Services, known as YSS, which works with young people at risk of social exclusion.
Councillor Simon Geraghty, Worcestershire County Council's Cabinet Member for Planning, Economy & Performance, said: "Voluntary and community sector groups have an excellent track record of achieving value for money, so we know these grants will be a real benefit for local people. We know how important it is for communities to have events and initiatives that bring people together and help to create a strong society. I'm confident that each of these grants will be well-used and make a difference in our communities."
VCS groups keen to find more information about Worcestershire County Council's VCS grants scheme can visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/voluntary.