Hungerford Town Council (HTC) operates an annual scheme whereby grants are awarded to local organisations offering services to Hungerford residents.

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].

The presentation ceremony took place on Saturday 2 September in the Croft Field Centre. “The annual Grants Awards is still a firm favourite on my calendar,” said Hungerford’s Mayor, Councillor Helen Simpson.  “The number of deserving organisations and charities offering advice, encouragement and support to our community is so very humbling especially during recent economic times. On behalf of all the Councillors, we thank you whole heartedly”.

(Later that day, another ceremony took place to celebrate the winners of Hungerford in Bloom 2023 who had beaten off stiff competition with their enviable gardens, outdoor spaces and courtyard gardens from the residential and commercial categories. More details can be found here.)

For more information

Web links have been provided at the end of each listing if you want to find out more information about these organisations. 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 five-digit number after the name of many of the organisations listed below is the project’s reference number on The Good Exchange website. Many of these funding appeals may still be active: in no case will the grant from Hungerford Town Council cover all the funding that it requires. For information and to donate, please click here to visit the “browse projects” section of The Good Exchange’s website and then enter the five-digit number in the “keywords” box.

The recipients

1st Hungerford Guides (20002) – £100

The Guide unit is small, which means overheads (hall hire, volunteer costs) are proportionally high. HTC’s grant will enable the group to raise funds to put towards materials for activities during sessions and towards a residential trip in London.
• for more information, click here.

All Yours Period Boxes CIC  (19908) – £100

AYPC supports local community organisations including Hungerford with period boxes on a regular basis as well all of the West Berkshire Libraries in the district. HTC’s grant will help ensure that every West Berkshire resident can access a period box should they be struggling with period poverty.
• for more information, click here.

Arts for Hungerford (19829) – £300

The organisation continues to provide regular and diverse arts events including film performances, both recently released major titles and foreign-language films. It also continues its commitment to reach out to young people who want to be involved in the arts, for example holding concerts for the classical and contemporary young musicians. HTC’s grant will help make this possible.
• for more information, click here.

Ben East – £300

Ben is a member of Team Kennet Athletic club and holds the U15 UK javelin record. Since then, he has won numerous competitions and events including a silver medal in the 2022 Senior UK championships. His performances this year have also given him the chance to qualify for the world championships in Colombia in August and earn his first GB vest. The funding from HTC will go towards Ben’s ongoing costs for travelling to sports events, equipment and training.
• for more information, click here.

Brighter Futures (17372) – £500

Brighter Futures is the registered charity of Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and supports services at Great Western Hospital in Swindon. HTC’s grant will go to The Better Births Appeal will help provide better equipment for the maternity department at GWH.
• for more information, click here.

CHAIN (19987) – £1,500

CHAIN provides transport for the elderly, sick and infirm in Hungerford and surrounding areas to enable them to visit places such as day centres, doctors’ surgeries and hospitals. Occasional trips of a vocational nature are also made together with weekly Handybus transport to a hydro-therapy centre. Its drivers also run the local Handybus. CHAIN publishes and distributes 2,900 free copies of the CHAIN Mail magazine every quarter (which is self-financing). Hungerford Town Council’s grant award is to help cover the cost of running both vehicles (bus and wheelchair vehicle) and the running costs of the office which is staffed by volunteers.
• for more information, click here.

Citizens Advice West Berkshire (20024) – £750

Citizens Advice West Berkshire provides information and advice to help people in West Berkshire to achieve positive outcomes in dealing with the problems that they face, including gaining access to welfare benefits, managing debt, helping them to stay in their homes and resolving problems with employers. HTC’s grant will enable CAWB to recruit and train more volunteers and upgrade its technology. By doing so, they can expand their reach and be available to more clients who need their assistance receive the help they deserve.
• for more information, click here.

Eight Bells for Mental Health (19421) – £250

Eight Bells is an independent member-led organisation that supports local people affected by mental-health issues a and runs a twice-weekly drop-in centre in Newbury. This offers members a safe place to get advice, improve social skills, receive support and interact with other members, thus reducing their social isolation. HTC’s grant will go towards core funding of running costs including additional staff and projects.
• for more information, click here.

Home-Start West Berkshire (19831) – £250

Across West Berkshire Home-Start volunteers visit families at home each week, supporting parents in coping with isolation, bereavement, multiple births, illness, disability as well as those who are just finding parenting a struggle. They provide non-judgemental, practical and emotional support and help build the family’s confidence and ability to cope. Hungerford Town Council’s grant award will help towards Home-Start’s Preventing Family Poverty project.
• for more information, click here.

Hungerford Bowling Club (19925) – £400

The Hungerford Club is a CASC registered sports club which offers an excellent bowling green, four all-weather tennis courts and two full size snooker/billiards tables. Management and maintenance of the facilities is undertaken by volunteers whose aim is to provide first class facilities for members. Both competitive and social opportunities to play are available. The grant from HTC will go towards the costs relating to outside contractors to maintain the bowling green.
• for more information, click here.

Hungerford Carnival (20025) – £500

The Hungerford Carnival Committee holds an annual carnival which incorporates floats from local organisations which all follow a parade through town and the high street with street performers and participants in costumes and fancy dress. The funding from HTC will go towards the running costs.
• for more information, click here.

Hungerford Food Community (19935) – £300

The group provides year-round food, nutrition and cookery experiences in and around Hungerford. These include cookery lessons for pre-school, primary and secondary school students, vulnerable adults and anyone interested in budget recipes, moving to a diet that is good for the planet and minimising food waste. The HTC grant will help continue food education for the families of Hungerford and also to increase the support of local producers, businesses and the community.
• for more information, click here.

Hungerford Rugby Football Club (20047) – £400

The Club was established in October 1886 and is run by volunteers. The club has an associated football academy working in partnership with Park House School in Newbury. Hungerford Rugby Club has its home at the Triangle Field where the clubhouse was completed in 2008 whixh is now the proud centrepiece of the playing facilities. HTC ‘s grant will help towards the cost of refurbishing the ladies’ toilets and disabled facilities.
• for more information, click here.

Hungerford Tennis Club (19781) – £400

The Hungerford Tennis Club needs to repair one of their damaged courts (caused by tree roots) and it will require a complete overhaul to make it usable. The contribution from HTC will go towards this cost.
• for more information, click here.

Hungerford Theatre Group (18909) ­ – £500

The Theatre company operates in hired venues in Hungerford and the surrounding villages for rehearsals and production venues. Hire costs for performances includes setting up the venues for productions. HTC’s contribution will go towards the ongoing running costs of the group.
• for more information, click here.

Hungerford Town Band (20004) – £1,000

Hungerford Town Band is a local organisation that provides two bands (senior and training) for engagements in the local and surrounding areas. It has many young players and encourages people of any age to start playing or come back to playing after a break and provides free instruction.  HTC’s grant award of £1,000 will help towards ongoing costs, rent and storage costs, insurance and new music. It is also looking to purchase a smaller travel drum kit.
• for more information, click here.

John O’Gaunt School PSA (Ref TBC) – £500

The PSA exists to help fundraise for particular projects of benefit to the school and often the wider community as well. HTC’s grant will go towards building a climbing wall in the gym, which during school hours will be available for school use and after school hours by the community through the Leisure Centre.
• for more information, click here.

Parkinson’s UK, Newbury branch (19949) – £100

Parkinson’s UK is a Parkinson’s research and support charity which influences and funds ground-breaking research to advance understanding of Parkinson’s and improve treatments. It provides expert information and support to help sufferers manage the condition and offers to people with Parkinson’s (and their families and carers) full support and opportunities to live life to the full. Hungerford Town Council’s grant will help towards the cost of providing chair-based exercises to people in Hungerford. These are available to anyone suffering from Parkinson’s in the West Berkshire area: members who attend find they help with movement as well as giving members a chance to meet up socially.
• for more information, click here.

Recovery in Mind (19917) – £250

Recovery in Mind provides free courses to support the mental-health recovery of adults living in West Berkshire aged 18 and over who have a wide variety of mental health challenges. It offers a three-step approach to improving mental health and now offers over 15 courses. All those who attended the courses reported feeling “better” or “much better” as a result. HTC’s grant award will help towards the cost of supporting people living in and around Hungerford providing free Recovery in Mind courses.
• for more information, click here.

Swings & Smiles (19995) – £50

Swings & Smiles’ mission is to support children and young people with special needs, and their families, to be happy, have fun and feel included. It want to be able to offer its services to as many people as possible. Currently it has over 680 registered families with Swings & Smiles and its dedicated team work closely with them to provide the support they need, when they need it. Hungerford Town Council’s grant will help to recruit a Play Leader to support the children with disabilities and their families.
• for more information, click here.

Tuesday Burchett Club (19680) – £500

The club was formed as a communal meeting place for less mobile people living in Hungerford and its surrounding areas and is run by a committee of 14. A warm and friendly club with a membership of around 120, the Tuesday Burchett Club gives relief and support to those for whom growing older has coincided with varying degrees of disability. Day and half-day trips take place throughout the year. Short-break holidays and well-supported mystery weekends have recently been added to the itinerary.  HTC’s grant will help towards raising money for the mini bus.
• for more information, click here.

Time to Talk Hungerford Outreach (19961) – £250

The organisation provides a free counselling service for young people aged 11-25 in West Berkshire, helping them deal with their specific challenges in a sustainable way. It is the only organisation in the district offering counselling that is free at the point of delivery to those under 18 (which over 80% of its clients are). The grant from HTC will go towards helping young people from the Hungerford area who have referred themselves. Many of these would have been seen at the Hungerford GP Surgery, others either in Newbury or remotely.
• for more information, click here.

Town & Manor of Hungerford (19902) – £1,000

The Town & Manor is working towards creating a Wetland Nature Reserve on 40 acres of historic water meadow on the north-western edge of Hungerford. The grant contribution from HTC will help towards the planning costs for the Kennet Valley Wetland Reserve project.
• for more information, click here.

Young People & Children First (19346) – £400

This charity was set up in 2008 to support care leavers 16-25 (and homeless young people) in West Berkshire. It provides places to live and the guidance and support these disadvantaged young people need to bridge the critical gap between foster care and independent living. The houses are comfortable, safe and homely with space for up to seven young people and live-in house supervisors and support workers provide practical and emotional support and individual tailored support plans for each of the residents. HTC’s grant award will help towards the costs to house and support vulnerable care leavers and homeless aged 16 to 24 from Hungerford, Kintbury and Inkpen, including maintenance of properties and support for utility costs.
• for more information, click here.