Community groups get a share of £7,500 raised by Higham Ferrers' former mayor

Community groups in Higham Ferrers have been given a share of £7,500 raised by the town's former mayor.

Outgoing mayor Cllr Chris O'Rourke has been presenting some of the 12 community groups with cheques from the money raised by fundraising events he held over 10 months of his term of office.

He raised £7,500 in total, although this could have been more if he had not had to cancel his last three events due to coronavirus.

His other charity The Encephalitis Society, which supports people with brain injuries, was given £1,610, and later this year he will be donating a new bench on the Market Square to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

Among those that successfully applied for a share of the fundraising from his mayoral year were the 3rd Higham Ferrers Brownies, 1st Higham Ferrers Rainbows, Higham Ferrers Gateway Club, Higham Ferrers Tourism, Higham Ferrers 2nd Rainbows, HiFARS (Higham Ferrers Archaeology and Research Society) and Higham Ferrers Bede House Youth.

Other groups were Pavillion Youth Club, the food bank, Higham Rangers, Higham Ferrers over 60s club, Higham Ferrers Girl Guides, Higham Ferrers Ranger Cadets and 1st Higham Ferrers Brownies.

The money each group received will help with all sorts of projects including help to buy arts and crafts, sports equipment, drama classes training and research projects.

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