Hampshire and Dorset community groups receive Wessex Community Bank grants
Four community organisations supporting children and families across Bournemouth, Basingstoke, Romsey and the wider Hampshire area have received grants in the latest round of awards from the Wessex Community Bank Foundation.
Grants have been awarded to 1st Bearcross Guides & Rangers, 3rd South Ham Rainbows and 3rd Basingstoke Brownies, George's Rockstars and Romsey Area Toy Library.
The funding will support children's activities and camping equipment, music therapy for children in hospital and the replacement of well-used toys for local families.
This round attracted a particularly high number of applications, making the final decisions difficult. The successful applications stood out for being clear about what the funding would be used for, who would benefit and the practical difference it would make.
1st Bearcross Guides & Rangers
1st Bearcross Guides & Rangers is a volunteer-led Girlguiding unit supporting around 30 girls from the Kinson area of Bournemouth.
The group gives girls opportunities to build confidence, independence and practical skills through weekly activities, challenges, trips and residential experiences.
Its grant will help replace camping equipment that has reached the end of its usable life, including cooking equipment, a gas fridge, a transport trolley and reusable lighting.
The equipment will be used at the group's annual camp and for future camps, helping girls continue to take part in affordable outdoor experiences for years to come.
3rd South Ham Rainbows and 3rd Basingstoke Brownies
Based in Basingstoke, the Rainbows and Brownies provide activities for girls through the Girlguiding programme, including trips, residential experiences, nature walks and participation in local community events.
Their grant will contribute towards coach hire for a visit to a local activity centre, giving the girls an opportunity to try a new activity.
The group regularly works to keep the cost of activities affordable for families, and the funding will help more girls to take part.
George's Rockstars
George's Rockstars provides music therapy for children in hospitals across Hampshire, Dorset and Sussex, including children facing serious and life-limiting illnesses and long periods of hospital treatment.
Music therapy can help children express themselves, engage with treatment and create positive experiences during what can be an extremely difficult time for them and their families.
The charity's grant will be used to purchase additional musical instruments, including ukuleles and Table Tubes, for its music therapists.
The instruments are designed to enable children to take an active part in music making regardless of age, ability or physical mobility.
They will become part of the therapists' mobile instrument collections, allowing music therapy to be taken directly to children who may be unable to leave their hospital beds.
Romsey Area Toy Library
Romsey Area Toy Library is a not-for-profit community group that allows local families to borrow quality children's toys rather than having to continually buy new ones.
The service helps families manage the cost of children's toys while giving toys a longer useful life by allowing them to be borrowed and enjoyed by different households.
Following the closure of its previous location, the Toy Library moved to Age Concern Romsey & District. The relocation brought additional costs and meant the group had been unable to replace some of its older and heavily used toys.
Its grant will help purchase new quality toys which can be borrowed repeatedly by families across the area.
The group is also exploring opportunities to work with Age Concern on intergenerational play sessions, bringing younger families and older members of the community together.
“We had so many strong applications this time that choosing between them was genuinely difficult. What comes through again and again is just how much work is being done by volunteers and small organisations across our communities, often quietly and without much recognition.”
“The people behind these groups do a wonderful job. They give their time, energy and experience to create opportunities for children, support families and help people through some very difficult circumstances. The grants are really about helping them continue the work they are already doing so well.”
Gary Moran, CEO, Wessex Community BankAbout the community grants
The Wessex Community Bank Foundation provides grants to grassroots organisations and community projects across the areas served by Wessex Community Bank.
Applications are considered on the practical difference the funding can make, who will benefit and how clearly the proposed use of the grant has been explained.