Community groups scoop cash boost

Community groups that mean so much to the people of Whitfield walked away with badly needed donations at a presentation event.

The area had received £2,000 from Glossopdale Community Wellbeing Programme, a grant fund made available by The Bureau, on behalf of NHS Tameside and Glossop, to support and improve community health and wellbeing.

The process saw scores of volunteers and community groups prepare bids to help fund their ideas, activities or groups.

It was then over to Whitfield residents to hear about the bids and vote for their favourite proposals at an event at Pure Vibes - Whitfield Community and Youth Centre.

The £2,000 grant was obtained by High Peak Unite Community, whose Kasey Carver said: “There was a fantastic response to the bids which came to more than the pot available. 

“Whitfield Cllr Graham Oakley kindly stepped in with a further £350 from his Councillor’s Initiative Fund to increase the pot to £2,350.  

“The top bids went to help with the start up of the Whitfield Youth Sports Club and to the Glossop, Hadfield and District Allotments’ Association to make raised beds for the community allotment.

“What happened next was amazing. Once the funds were distributed, two projects failed to get funds.  

“However, most of those who had won funds trimmed their own bids so that, in the end, all eight proposals came away with something.”

Kasey added: “It was therefore possible to also  provide funds for equipment for Whitfield Litter Pickers, a community notice board, cooking equipment for ‘Hands on Art’ supporting adults with learning difficulties, indoor bowling equipment to set up a seniors’ league, a launch event in Whitfield for the Glossop Men’s Gang and play mats for the Baby and Toddlers’ Group.”

Sonja Quirk, from the Glossop Arts Project, is keen to help adults with learning difficulties to feel more confident to cook for themselves.  

She said: “I got to talk with representatives from ‘People of Whitfield’ who explained that their Food Club should be able to help by providing low cost ingredients.” 

Cllr Oakley added: “Despite the very heavy rain, Whitfield residents came in throughout the afternoon, engaged with the projects and then voted - from 10-year-olds right up to over 80-year-olds were using their votes.” 

Main image:

IN THE MONEY: Cllr Graham Oakley with the members of the Whitfield groups at the presentation.