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Newbury Building Society’s Community Support Scheme has provided financial support to a number of community-focussed charities in its branch towns and communities.
During 2021, the Society are inviting applications four times a year to meet the increase in demand for support.
The following organisations received support from the scheme’s first application intake in February 2021:
- The Mulberry Bush Organisation, Abingdon: awarded £500 to help fund the ongoing refurbishment of four residential homes for children living with trauma.
- Fair Close Centre, Newbury: awarded £500 to support the continuation of a 6-day-a-week service for over 65s who live alone and who are isolated.
- The Winchester Lido Sports Association: awarded £500 to go towards the ongoing repairs to the building and restoration project.
- Whitchurch Conservation Group, Basingstoke: awarded £500 to support the launch of its first Whitchurch Children’s Festival which focusses on storytelling, books and imagination.
- Thames Valley Adventure Playground, Wokingham: awarded £500 to support the running costs of the playground designed to meet the needs of families with special needs.
- Sherborne St John School Association, Basingstoke: awarded £500 to help fund the school’s Adventure Trail.
- SeeAbility, Basingstoke: awarded £1250 to purchase two specialist sensor waterbeds for people living with learning disabilities, autism and sight loss.
- Creative Response, Newbury: awarded £500 to continue its arts for wellbeing sessions for vulnerable adults with mental health concerns.
- Grove Challengers football club, Didcot: awarded £350 to fund a new football kit for the youth team.
Thoughts from some of the charities:
Fiona Walters, Community, Corporate and Events Fundraiser at The Mulberry Bush Organisation said: “I am local to Newbury, my first ever savings account was with Newbury Building Society – my family trusted the buildings society to look after my savings for my future, and now I thank Newbury Building Society for putting their trust into The Mulberry Bush to help the children the charity supports. As the charity grows, so do our ambitions. With generous donations like this, we can reach and engage with not just 10’s or 100’s but 1000’s of children, families and communities. On behalf of The Mulberry Bush, thank you!”
Saujan Pandhak, Strategic Partnerships Officer at SeeAbility said: “We are very grateful to Newbury Building Society for agreeing to sponsor the purchase of two waterbeds for our Fir Tree Lodge service. The donation will make a tremendous gift for the residents we support with learning difficulties, autism and sight loss, as well as offer great health benefits for our wheelchair users.”
2021 deadlines:
The Community Support Scheme provides a one-off donation of between £100 - £500 with exceptions of higher funding made on a discretionary basis. Projects focussed on improving the lives of those in the local community will be considered.
Round 2: Sunday 30 May
Round 3: Sunday 29 August
Round 4: Sunday 10 October
Further information on the scheme can be found on the Society’s website or through one of their branches.
