Wessex Water provide vital support for grassroots projects

The Wessex Water Foundation Community Fund has awarded grants totalling £167,000 to groups across the company’s region.

With a particular focus on smaller groups working at grassroots level, the grants will fund activities that strengthen communities by addressing local needs and issues – as well as improving financial capability for customers.

Working in partnership with Community Foundations in Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset, Bath and Bristol, Wessex Water said there had been a notable increase in the number of applications to the Community Fund in all areas.

Now in its fourth year, the fund helps charities and community groups via decision-making panels across the region. Projects which have received support include:

  • Rock Community Centre: A £4,000 grant towards increased running costs at this well-used centre in Lawrence Weston, Bristol.
  • Housing Matters: £4,000 to a Bristol outreach project that prevents communities in areas of deprivation falling into crisis, homelessness and debt through early intervention.
  • Porlock Vale CIC: A grant of £1,500 towards the core costs of running a community hub for rurally isolated older people in Somerset.
  • Your IT Now: £3,150 towards the running costs of Game Changers, a social inclusion project in Somerset for adults with a learning disability or neurodiversity.
  • Westbury and Warminster Youth Club: The Wiltshire club received a £4,000 grant to help fund weekly sessions.
  • Wiltshire Search and Rescue: Received £2,000 to purchase a new rescue bike and equipment.
  • Dorset Blind Association: Awarded a £2,000 grant to support the delivery of in-depth advice and support on financial management, helping people manage their finances more effectively.
  • Island Youth and Community Centre: A £3,744 grant for a toilet to be renovated at the centre in Portland, Dorset.

Kirsty Scarlett, Wessex Water’s Head of Community Engagement, said:

“We are delighted to support such a wide range of groups across our region with this major funding award, all of whom are providing invaluable services and support to communities who need it the most.”

NEWS CATEGORIES

LATEST NEWS

Joint research on engagement and accountability published by CCW and Ofwat

Joint research by the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) and Ofwat, has been published, exploring the themes of consumer engagement with water companies and...

Prolonged dry conditions increase water scarcity across Scotland

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has confirmed that Scotland’s water scarcity situation is worsening, with a further decline in river levels following another...

NRW steps up action in response to prolonged dry weather

Following the extended period of warm and dry weather, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has confirmed that the trigger thresholds have been met to move...

£6m funding for automated drones and smart robotics that will be able to both sample and deliver near lab-grade analysis of coastal and inland...

A world-leading project that’s set to see drones, robots and a mobile lab transform how rivers and seas are monitored has been named a...