NHDC awards over £10,000 to local community groups in Letchworth

PR Date: Monday, 28 October 2019 - 10:30am

On Wednesday 16 October, North Hertfordshire District Council’s (NHDC) Letchworth Committee awarded grants to 5 local community groups.

The charity Resolve, an independent adult drug and alcohol service, was awarded a grant of £5000 to help the organisation relocate to Letchworth Town Centre and set up the utilities for their new base at Resolve House, Openshaw Way. The charity currently operates out of the Westmill Centre in Hitchin, but as Letchworth is a hub for services such as the Council, Citizens Advice, and the job centre, the new location will better meet the needs of its service users.

Joe Heeney, Chief Executive Officer at Resolve, said: "We are so grateful to NHDC’s Letchworth Committee for granting this funding. This has provided Resolve with the ability to build the required facilities in an incredible new space and move into our new Service Centre in the Heart of Letchworth. This grant, alongside other funding, means we can now deliver our new Services, including support services for Families and Carers, from this perfectly positioned site in the heart of North Hertfordshire."

Howard Garden Social and Day Care Centre was awarded £1,500 to install new security shutters. The centre provides a place for older people to have lunch and participate in a wide range of activities, from table tennis to watercolour painting. The charity helps prevent social isolation and can be a real life-line for its members.

Imajica Theatre Company was awarded £1450 to provide affordable and complimentary tickets for families to their pantomime shows at St Christopher School in December. The funding will enable families who might not otherwise have the opportunity to access to performing arts in the community. The theatre company create interactive musicals and workshops, as well as a theatre-in-education programme for younger audiences which promote positive wellbeing and encourages young people to participate in the arts.

Samantha Hough, Company Director and Chorographer at Imajica, said: "Grant support means we can provide 50% of our ticket allocation free to local SEN families which is an amazing way to give back to the community. Imajica Theatre are so excited about this years show!"

Woof N Wag, an organisation which supports dog owners and prospective dog owners, was awarded a grant of £1451 to create a sensory garden for dogs. The garden will provide mental and emotional stimulation and contain a selection of plants known to reduce stress levels in dogs. Woof n Wag’s mission is to create a community hub for individuals and families to come together with the aim of responsible dog ownership.

Vicky Smith, Director of Woof N Wag said: "We're absolutely over the moon to have received the funding from NHDC. The team constantly strives to　make our field a place where all dogs and their owners can come and have a positive experience. We hope by introducing new features like the sensory garden that we can encourage more people to come and enjoy what Woof N Wag has to offer."

Kings Community Church was awarded £1000 to run a Christmas Café in Letchworth Town Centre in partnership with the Kings Community (Baptist) Church and the Norton Methodist Church.

The group plan to open the café at 30A Leys Avenue on the three Saturdays in December leading up to Christmas for people to drop in for a cup of tea and a snack. The Churches intend to have people providing debt advice, provide craft activities such as making recycled wrapping paper and Christmas cards. Resources such as a food boutique table, as well as sign posting to other services will also be available. The funding will enable the group to purchase basic equipment such as aprons, tea towels, cleaning products, craft materials, and also go towards publicity costs for leaflet printing and advertising.

David Wheatley, Reverend at Kings Community Church said: "Our desire is to provide a community space where Christmas can be shared and support can be offered to all who enter in. Thank you to the Heritage for providing a shop space for us to use, and to NHDC for the grant awarded to enable this project to become a reality."

Cllr Gary Grindal, Chairman of the Letchworth Committee said: "We are pleased to be able to award grants to these community groups who provide invaluable support and advice to a wide range of groups in the local community. We wish them the best of luck with their projects".

To find out more about Area Committee grant funding please go to: https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/home/community/grants/area-committee-grants

*subject to completion of necessary formalities