Grants for Southern Rural & Baldock community groups

Community grants have been agreed* for four groups in Southern Rural and one in Baldock, totalling over £7,000!

Christchurch Baldock was awarded £1,560 for their Body & Soul group which provides total fitness for retired people. The group meets weekly, holding 1.5 hour sessions at Baldock Community Centre, with 30-35 attendees participating. The sessions include chair exercises for the body, singing for the lungs, exercise games for the brain and social opportunities to chat and have a coffee. The grant will be used to cover the cost of an instructor for 39 weeks in 2025.

Cassel Hall Trust was awarded £2,000 towards the replacement of the boiler at Cassel Memorial Hall which it manages in Lilley. The hall is well used by a variety of groups including yoga, pilates, mother & toddler, table tennis, film club and private parties. Once the current boiler has come to the end of its life, it will be replaced by a modern and more efficient one, allowing the hall to be continually used and have lower running costs.

Pirton JoyCare was awarded £870 towards the running costs of their services supporting older people in the community. The charity provides a safe environment for around 80 individuals to find companionship, combat loneliness and enhance their wellbeing by encouraging them to remain active and engaged with their local community. Activities offered include lunches, shopping trips, film matinees and day trips. The money will be used to help provide the service as well as utilise their minibus which allows them to help people with transport to medical appointments, collection of prescriptions and home visits.

Preston Parish Council was awarded £594 towards a defibrillator cabinet to be fitted on the outside wall of their pavilion. At the moment the defibrillator is located inside the pavilion, so is only accessible when it’s open. The defibrillator is a vital resource in an emergency because of the rural nature of Preston and the distance and time required for ambulances to reach the village.

The Living Theatre Whitwell was awarded £2,000 towards the running of an outdoor art trail project. The outdoor arts organisation, born out of the pandemic, wants to expand on the success of their art trail in 2024. Commissioning eight local artists, the trail – in situ from May to September - will start a central village location, go through footpaths and end at their theatre space. The funding requested will support materials for the artists, promotion, audio recording costs to bring the trail to life online, an event co-ordinator role and gardening fees to keep footpaths and areas clear during the trail. It will also cover the cost of two free places in each of three workshops to encourage community participation. In addition, funding will support a workshop with the local primary school.

Cllr Val Bryant, Executive Member for Community & Partnerships, who approved the funding under delegated decision, said: “These groups are providing important services to our communities, benefitting a wide range of people, which we are proud to help fund. From young people playing football and the exciting return of Whitwell art trail, to supporting older people in rural villages, and enabling access to a defibrillator, which significantly increases someone’s chance of survival if used before an ambulance arrives.”

The next Baldock Community Forum will take place on 3 March and for Southern Rural on 13 March.

*subject to completion of the necessary formalities