Hungerford Town Council (HTC) operates an annual scheme whereby grants are awarded to local organisations offering services to Hungerford residents. The 2021 awards ceremony took place on Saturday 18 September at the Croft Hall Field. The Council was delighted that so many representatives from the local organisations were able to attend.
“The annual Grants Awards Ceremony is one of my favourite civic events” Hungerford’s Mayor Helen Simpson said. “Following the cancellation of last year’s ceremony due to Covid restrictions, it was especially lovely to be able to meet up again this year to celebrate in person. I am so pleased that this grant funding helps the many local organisations, clubs, groups and charities to continue to support the residents of Hungerford. HTC wishes to say thank you to all the groups receiving a grant this year for their invaluable work in the local community.”
Please see below a list of the organisations which have benefitted from this round of funding and a brief summary of what the grant will be used for. For more information on HTC’s grants, please see this section of HTC’s website or contact the Town Clerk, Claire Barnes, on [email protected].
For more information
If you want to find out more information about these organisations, links have been provided in each case. All would welcome some combination of new members, volunteers, further funding and attendance at any events.
Penny Post is happy to promote information about these or any other not-for-profit, community and charitable organisations at no cost. Please contact [email protected].
The recipients
1st Inkpen and Kintbury Scouts £50
The grant award will help towards the cost of building an extension to the existing scout hut to provide much-needed storage facilities for the myriad scout equipment. This will be a huge organisational benefit to the children.
• For more information, click here.
1st Hungerford Scout Group £200
1st Hungerford Scout Group is a voluntary run group for young people in the town. The grant will help towards the cost of insulating the loft space in the scout hut with the aim of reducing heating costs.
• For more information, click here.
Berkshire Vision £100
BV currently supports people throughout West Berkshire who are blind or have a visual impairment. The grant will go towards their doorstop befriending project which has a specific focus on rebuilding lost confidence to go out, to do everyday errands, to rekindle old hobbies and perhaps begin new ones.
• For more information, click here.
CHAIN £1,500
To help cover the cost of running both vehicles (bus and wheelchair vehicle) and the running costs of the office which is open every weekday between 9am and 11am and staffed by volunteers.
• For more information, click here.
Citizens Advice West Berkshire £1,200
To operate an outreach service for residents of Hungerford in the Hungerford Library. Two sessions will be offered on the first and third Wednesday of every month to clients wanting to access Citizens Advice in Hungerford. The clients that value this service are those who find it difficult to access services in Newbury.
• For more information, click here.
Community of Hungerford Theatre Company £500
To go towards the cost of hiring premises for storage of scenery, properties, electrics, sound equipment and costumes. The grant will allow the company to get productions underway as soon as the lockdown is eased.
• For more information, click here.
Brighter Futures Scanner Appeal £500
The grant will help towards installing a specialist CT scanner in the new Swindon Radiotherapy Centre so that local cancer patients do not have to face a long journey to Oxford for an initial scan and planning appointment prior to their radiotherapy treatment beginning in Swindon.
• For more information, click here.
Eight Bells for Mental Health £400
Will be put towards hiring venues to offer smaller drop-in sessions at four different locations across West Berks. Also, for the cost of a worker to meet isolated people and help them reengage with the community after lockdown.
• For more information, click here.
Greenham Trust £400
The grant will help towards the Surviving to Thriving fund which looks to address a variety of urgent mental health and wellbeing issues resulting from the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns across different vulnerable groups and all ages.
• For more information, click here.
HADCAF (Hungerford & District Community Arts Festival) £1,000
To help with running costs for this year’s festival consisting of around 20 events including arts and leisure-related attractions, music, theatre, exhibitions, workshops, talks and guided walks.
• For more information, click here.
Home-Start West Berkshire £250
Home-Start volunteers visit families at home each week, supporting parents in situations as diverse as isolation, bereavement, multiple births, illness, disability or who are just finding parenting a struggle. The grant will help towards their Preventing Family Poverty project.
• For more information, click here.
Hungerford Club £433
The Hungerford Club is a CASC registered sports club with bowls, tennis and indoor sports facilities. The grant will help towards the cost of maintenance of the bowling green which is undertaken monthly by contractors.
• For more information, click here.
Hungerford & Camburn Educational Foundation £1,000
This charity is the only local charity giving financial help to students following further education and the grant will help local students towards the cost of this.
• For more information, click here.
Hungerford Cricket Club £1000
To help towards the cost of replacing the three outdoor cricket nets at the ground with two new ECB-standard nets. This is to provide safer and higher nets to allow a better facility for junior and adult members to use.
• For more information, click here.
Hungerford Hares £350
Will help to fund one member of the club attending a mental health first aid course so the club will be better equipped to help and support others. They would also like to offer some club members the opportunity to attend a run leaders course.
• For more information, click here.
The Hungerford Hub £5,692.50
To help towards the Hub Manager’s salary and to replace the outside light fittings with LEDs. Part of the grant will also go towards the Hub’s “Well Read Mind” project.
• For more information, click here.
Hungerford Nursery School – The Shoal of Friends £500
To help towards the cost of enhancing the outdoor area at the Nursery. This will give great learning opportunities to the children in their everyday learning and play.
• For more information, click here.
Hungerford Primary School £500
To help with the cost of providing weekly yoga, mindfulness and wellbeing classes over a twelve-week period to all year groups. This is alongside a visit to an outdoor activity education centre to promote the wellbeing element of the school community.
• For more information, click here.
Hungerford Town Band £1,500
To help towards covering costs as the band are currently unable to raise any funds, being unable to perform/rehearse during the pandemic. The grant will allow them to continue to allow anyone of any age to continue to enjoy music.
• For more information, click here.
Hungerford Town Football Club £1,500
Will be put towards the cost of replacing the existing changing pavilion to comply with new FA and league rules. The club is going to add women’s changing facilities and to build an accessible injury treatment room in case any players or officials are injured during matches.
• For more information, click here.
Hungerford Youth & Community Centre £4,800
The grant will help towards the basic running costs of keeping the centre open. These include staff wages, insurance and maintenance costs and utility bills.
• For more information, click here.
John O’Gaunt School PSA £500
Put towards the cost of re-developing a current unused area of the school to provide a quiet garden for reflection and a safe environment for children to visit during school hours and beyond.
• For more information, click here.
Parkinsons UK, Newbury £100
To help towards the cost of providing chair-based exercises to people in Hungerford suffering from Parkinson’s.
• For more information, click here.
Recovery in Mind £400
Will help towards the cost of offering support for adults who are experiencing difficulties with thoughts, feelings and behaviours due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
• For more information, click here.
Tuesday Burchett Club £275
The Club was formed as a communal meeting place for the ‘less mobile’ people living in Hungerford and its surrounding areas and is run by a committee of 14. The grant will help towards the expenses of getting the club’s minibuses roadworthy.
• for more information, click here.
Time to Talk West Berkshire £400
The grant will help them to deal with an increase in referrals due to young people struggling to cope with anxiety and depression caused by the Covid 19 outbreak. Funding for their project will help to manage the waitlist and ensure that any further increase is dealt with in a timely manner.
• For more information, click here.
Young People & Children First £250
To help towards the cost of supporting the mental health of the charity’s staff through clinical supervision to help manage the personal and professional demands created by the nature of their work.
• For more information, click here.
