Northants groups benefit from huge Co-op cash pot

Ten groups, good causes and charities across Northamptonshire shared £21,630 during 2019 thanks to a donation from Central England Co-op’s Community Dividend Fund.

A diverse range of projects were handed a funding boost during the past 12 months, with the largest single amount given being £5,000.

In total, 114 organisations spread out across 16 counties shared a funding pot of £177,885

In Northamptonshire, the project awarded funding included:

Action for Asperger’s, based in Corby, which was awarded £4,050 to pay for the creation of special bags filled with sensory toys as part of its work offering specialist autism counselling for all ages.

Desborough Men’s Shed Association which was given £2,500 to help support the community work undertaken by the group.

Desborough Library, which was handed £2,080 to buy all the items needed to create a community cinema for people of all ages.

Thrapston and District U3A, which will spend £1,250 on the unique technology to allow people with hearing and mobility difficulties to take part in a wide range of fun educational trips across the county.

Brigstock Village Community Group will be able to keep people informed about local events with a new £950 notice board – which will be placed right outside the Central England Co-op Food Store in Brigstock.

Service Six, in Wellingborough, provides support for vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and adults during times of crisis. A total of £2,950 has been awarded to the group for a specialist piece of software – Lamplight Spotlight – that will allow the organisation to easily and quickly manage cases involving users.

Accommodation Concern will use £1,950 to pay for a range of items from desks to chairs to help support its work with the homeless and those at risk.

Vine House, in Desborough, is a community day centre that aims to alleviate isolation in and around the area by offering bathing facilities, hot lunches and meals on wheels. They will use £1,500 to pay for a new dishwasher to support its busy kitchen.

Geddington Brickyard Garden works with the local community to create an eco-friendly space in the area that the entire community can use.

Teamwork Trust operates a men’s shed scheme that allows people to undertake woodworking projects and allows people to share their skills and experiences while not being judged.

Grants of between £100 and £5,000 are handed out every three months to a wide range of applicants.

Elaine Nicholson, from Action for Asperger’s, said: “The money will be used to purchase sensory SOS bags for our clients. These bags are holdalls that contain soothing sensory items such as fidget toys. These are specialist items that are used by stressed autistic individuals as a means to prevent escalation into often-dangerous fight and flight activity. Needless to say, they will aid the mental health of lives affected by the experience of autism enormously.”

John Dale from Desborough Men’s Shed said their Grant will be used to buy a range of items to support the project including an eco-toilet, wooden shed, disabled ramps, seats and various pieces of hardware.

The innovative project supports people who are retired and unemployed by teaching them a range of skills at the same time as trying to preserve, protect and improve their health.

John said: “Being awarded £2,500 towards equipping our new facilities is a great help. The funding will go towards purchasing equipment which will provide a safer and cleaner workshop environment.”

Debbie Robinson, Chief Executive of Central England Co-operative, said: “The Community Dividend Fund reflects a key principle of our society, in that we reward the loyalty of our customers by investing in and supporting local communities.

“The scheme helps to benefit a wide variety of projects, which will make the local area that we serve a better place for our members to live, work and visit.

“I would like to urge all of our members to get in touch and put forward a community cause close to their heart for the Community Dividend Fund scheme during the coming 12 months.”

People can apply for funding by clicking here.