We are extremely pleased to have been able to support a number of brilliant local charities and community organisations in the April round of our 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. The last round of applications closed at the end of April, and we were pleased to make donations to the following organisations.
HEROS Charity
HEROS Charity creates new opportunities for ex-racehorses and young people who are struggling in mainstream education through unique apprenticeships, diplomas and traineeships. In additon to the work they undertake with young people, they also rehabilitate, retrain and rehome horses who have retired from racing for a variety of reasons, including old age and injury. They received a donation of £1,000 to help towards their gardening and cookery education for children with special educational needs.
CPRE Hampshire - The Countryside Charity
The Countryside Charity, based in Winchester, applied for a donation to support the 2023 Hampshire Countryside Awards, which celebrate unsung heroes of the local countryside, who work to protect habitats and create a greener future.
Military Vehicle Trust
The Military Vehicle Trust applied for funding to deliver a salute to local veterans as part of Armed Forces Day celebrations in Alton on 24th June.
We, the organisers of the Armed Forces Day Convoy, sincerely thank the Newbury Building Society for their donation which will make a significant and positive difference to our ability to deliver the event which salutes our Veterans and Armed Forces personnel.
The Wokingham Pantomime Group
The Wokingham Pantomine Group will use their donation to go towards offering Wokingham Borough's foster children and their carer families a dedicated pantomine performance.
Abingdon Community Fridge
Abingdon Community Fridge is a volunteer-led organisation who work to reduce food waste by redistributing surplus food to the local community free of charge. The funding they received will go towards the costs of their liability insurance so they can continue to help local people in food poverty.
Challengers
Challengers is a disability charity which provides play for children aged 2-18 at playschemes, youth schemes and pre-schools across the South East of England. Their donation will support their play and youth services in Basingstoke, where we have a branch. The funds will enable them to put on fun activities in a safe space for disabled children.
CLASP
CLASP is a self-advocacy group for disabled adults based in Wokingham. The charity will use their donation to support their gardening group, which aims to teach their clients about 'fork to plate', growing flowers, and learning about the environment.
Being awarded this grant allows us to run our gardening group and buy vital equipment and plants which will enhance the opportunities for our members. We use this time to improve our well-being, learn more about how to nurture and grow plants and flowers, and have fun when we have successful produce. This is part of us being more engaged with nature and our community. Thank you to Newbury Building Society for investing in us as a charity.
Thomas Reade School Association
Thomas Reade School Association applied for funding to purchase some equipment such as water butts and small spades and rakes for their after school gardening club.
Newbury Youngstars
The Newbury Youngstars are a youth theatre group made up of children aged between 9 and 16. The funding they have received supported a recent production of 'Singin' In The Rain'.
Move Momentum
Move Momentum is a Winchester-based dance charity who offer dance and movement classes for people who may not otherwise be able to access them. They provide fun, accessible dance classes for wheelchair users and people aged 65 and over.
The donation from the Society be spent on venue hire for their upcoming dance show, which gives dancers a chance to showcase what they have been learning to their friends and families.
Home-Start South Oxfordshire
Home-Start South Oxfordshire is Didcot-based charity which supports vulnerable families and children in the local area.
The donation from Newbury Building Society will go towards helping the continuation of our vital trained home-visiting volunteer service throughout Abingdon and Didcot in the southern part of Oxfordshire. Our trained volunteers are matched with families who are struggling, and have at least one child under the age of five, and they visit them in their own homes each week to offer support in the ways they need. The donation will help us ensure that we can support the families that need it most.
Newbury Pride
Newbury Pride is a local event celebrating the rights and visibility of LGBTQIA+ people throughout the local area. The Newbury Pride Committee applied for funds to support their ambitions to become a more environmentally friendly event. They plan to purchase fabric wristbands for eventgoers, as well as reusable or recyclable plastic cups.
Want to apply for funding?
The next Community Support Scheme round closes on Friday 28 July. 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.
