We are delighted to have been able to donate a total of £5,153.58 to 11 local organisations in each of our branch network in our first round of 2024 Community Support Scheme.
The Community Support Scheme offers funding to organisations in and around our ten branch towns. Applications are open four times each year, and typical grant amounts range from £100-£500. In 2024's first round, we have been able to give donations to 11 fantastic organisations.
Andover Foodbank
Our donation of £500 to Andover Foodbank will be used to purchase 1-2 months' worth of tinned meat products, which provide a long-term back of protein products for the community.
Basingstoke Community Furniture Project
We donated £403.58 to Basingstoke Community Furniture Project, which will be used to purchase a PAT testing machine, which will test donations of electric equipment to ensure that it's safe, enabling them to train adults and young people with disabilities in their electrical repair workshop.
The Community Furniture Project is delighted to be awarded this grant and would like to thank Newbury Building Society for its generosity. The grant will enable us to speed the turnaround of donated electrical items, reducing waste and helping the people of Basingstoke.
Style Acre
Style Acre support around 270 adults with learning disabilities across Oxfordshire through a wide range of activities and opportunities. Our donation of £500 will be used to buy gardening materials, tools and equipment for their gardening sessions, which provide a safe, calm space for people to learn outdoors and take part in activities that benefit their mental and physical health.
Friends of Hungerford Primary School
Our donation of £350 will be used to purchase gardening tools for children of Friends of Hungerford Primary School and adults, and a new shed for them to store. Our grant will also assist in the purchase of a new water butt which will be used to water their plants on the school grounds.
Warm Welcome Cafe
The Warm Welcome Cafe, based in Newbury, provides a safe and welcoming space for the local community who are suffering from the rising cost of living. Our donation of £300 will go towards the rental costs and be able to continue to provide a warm welcome to all who need it.
Bassy's Barn
Based in Alton, Bassy's Barn are a small family run organisation who provide a quiet, safe and secluded setting for the use of SEN children and their families. Our donation of £1,000 will be used to maintain and develop the natural habitat further to encourage new species for the local community to enjoy.
Five-a-Day Market Garden
Based in Thatcham, Five-A-Day Market Garden aim to improve the wellbeing of the local community by managing a growing space. Our donation of £250 will be used to purchase new flower pots, compost and seeds, which will allow school children who visit the garden to be involved in planting.
This kind donation has reinforced our view that this is a caring and community led organisation that genuinely cares and gives back to the community in which it works.
Education Business Partnership (EBP)
The Education Business Partnership (EBP), provide engaging ways for employers and young people to come together for over 30 years. Each year, they work with an incredible 1500 different business and 20,000 young people. Our donation of £500 will help with the organisation of the 'Junior Citizen' 2024 event, supporting several primary schools in Thatcham and surrounding areas. The programme allows Year 6 students the opportunity to work with and find out more about their local community, whilst gaining valuable experience.
Madrina Oxfordshire
Madrina Oxfordshire, based in Abingdon, are a charity who help ensure inclusivity for all students facing barriers, financial or otherwise, who wish to attend their end of term prom celebrations. Our donation of £350, will go towards the costs of pop-up changing facilities, dry cleaning and transport.
Tower House Horses CIO
Our donation of £500 to Tower House Horses CIO, based in Winchester, will support the charity continuing their sessions to support socially disadvantaged individuals by improving their mental and emotional support through equine assisted learning services.
We were delighted to hear that Newbury Building Society have chosen to support our project - ‘Horses Change Minds.’ It is only through the generosity of organisations such as Newbury that we are able to continue offering our unique programme of equine assisted wellbeing to those in our community who are coping with stress, anxiety and depression.
Younger People with Dementia
Based in Wokingham, Younger People with Dementia are a charity who provide support to individuals affected by young onset dementia. The charity provide a variety of services including activity workshops, respite to carers and carers support groups, one to one support and much more. Our donation of £500 will support their art workshops.
Every piece of funding that we receive means we can make a difference to those living with dementia – what a gift! Thank you, Newbury Building Society, for enabling that to happen.
Want to apply for funding?
The second Community Support Scheme round of 2024 closes on Tuesday 30 April 2024. For more information and to apply, please visit our Community Support Scheme page.
Emma is responsible for the marketing communications and public relations for the Society.
