Chest fund unlocks potential for community
COMMUNITY groups from Berwick have been singing the praises of a fund which allows them to bid for cash from Northumberland Council.
As part of the Community Chest programme, the local authority will provide up to 75% of costs needed, up to £5,000.
Among the groups to benefit from recent rounds of funding were the Berwick-Upon-Tweed Photography Club, the Berwick Community Trust and Cornhill Community Action.
At last Thursday’s meeting of the North Northumberland Local Area Committee, representatives from each group explained the impact of the funding boosts.
The Berwick Community Trust received £1,200 for a defibrillator in the town. The trust’s Becky Murray said: “It’s an important thing to put in the town.
“We wanted to increase the spread of 24/7 defibrillators across the town, and we were successful.
“The North East Ambulance Service have directed the public to the defibrillator four times, although it has not been used which is a good thing. People know it is there, we hope it is never used, but it is there if it is needed.”
The Berwick Camera Club received funding for a new projector to display members’ work. Club member Chris Jary said: “Last year we asked for a grant to improve our projector and screens. It is particularly important because people spend a lot of time processing their images, getting them just right. To show them digitally to the public, if the projector isn’t up to scratch they look awful, which is distressing as a photographer.
“It has been very important to us to be able to do that.”
The final group to speak was Cornhill Community Action. The group used funding from the council to help in the renovation of the village’s former primary school into a thriving community centre with space for businesses.
Villager Martin Devon said: “We started with £19,000 and we have been grateful to receive money from the Community Chest in two successive years. Altogether we have spent £78,000 which obviously involved other funders. We now have five small business units up and running and a waiting list of wouldbe tenants.
“In time, we expect to be able to use some of the money earned to create a modest benefit fund for people in the parish and to help the parish council with maintenance of the building. That is our success story.”
The committee’s vice chairman, Coun Georgina Hill, urged other groups to apply for funding.
She said: “The Community Chest is funding from Northumberland County Council to support community groups and organisations.
“You can apply for up to 75% of what you’re looking for to a maximum of £5,000. We’re always looking for more applicants from across the area.”