Area board grants for local groups

MELKSHAM Area Board awarded a number of community grants to local clubs, groups and organisations at their meeting this month.

A total of £12,562 was awarded at the meeting held on Wednesday 13th February from the area board’s Community Area Grants scheme; the Melksham Wellbeing Fund; and Community Youth Grants.

At the meeting, councillors warned applicants that the amount requested from the Community Area Grants scheme, exceeded what was available. 

This prompted one applicant from Keevil Cricket Club to withdraw their application of £1,059 for ground equipment. Their spokesperson said, “A number of the projects that we have seen tonight, I feel are more justified to use the area board money this year. Our bid, whilst very worthwhile for our cricket club, it’s not something essential to us at this immediate point in time. I think that some of the money would be better spent on those projects at this point in time, particularly for the youth projects.”

Keevil Cricket Club’s withdrawal allowed the area board to distribute funds from the Community Area Grants scheme as follows:

• Melksham Shed was given £1,250 towards a shed storage container. The applicant explained, “The current workshop, due to the expanding membership, is unable to provide a secure store for materials or on-going craft work.”

• Young Melksham was given £920 for new tables for the cafe area. To help support upcoming ‘Tea and Talk’ sessions with the Melksham Seniors group, and for general use.

• Melksham Town Council was given £3,500 towards the splashpad in King George V playing field.

• West Wiltshire Group of the Ramblers Association was given £2,103 to help carry out improvements to the Public Rights of Way network around Melksham Without and Seend parishes. This project would replace 17 stiles with kissing gates between Bowerhill and the Kennet and Avon Canal. 

• 1st Broughton Gifford and Holt Scouts were given £515 towards their project to purchase a solar panel and generator to remove their reliance on a petrol generator for producing late night power.

Other grants awarded at the meeting were:

• From the Melksham Wellbeing Fund, £1,000 was given to Melksham Community Meals for their continued work to provide a regular meeting place to enjoy a good quality meal and good company at a reasonable price after Wiltshire Council closed down the Lunch Club last year.

• From the Melksham Wellbeing Fund, £700 was given to Melksham Seniors for their community outreach initiative to encourage older people to visit the town and get involved in the community.

• From the Community Youth Grants, Young Melksham was given £1,716 to help support the continued delivery of positive activities in their youth club sessions for 13-18 year olds on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

•  From the Community Youth Grants, 1st Broughton Gifford and Holt Scouts were given £858 to help replenish its Jamboree Fund in order to continue offering help in enabling young people to have life-changing opportunities.