Community groups and projects in Peasedown St John once again have the opportunity to apply for up to £4,000 this year, thanks to the Ward Councillors’ Initiative Fund.
Local councillors Karen Walker and Sarah Bevan (Independent, Peasedown) have been allocated the money by Bath and North East Somerset Council to spend in the village.
This year is the third of three years where each B&NES Councillor is allocated money so local initiatives in their wards can receive some much needed funding, giving many of the projects that rely on volunteers that extra financial support.
To date, £12,000 has been distributed to community groups and projects in Peasedown St John through Cllr Walker and Cllr Bevan.
Cllr Karen Walker said: “There are still many more worthy groups and projects in Peasedown that could do with some extra cash. I’m looking forward to working with them to decide how the money can be spent.
“During the last two financial years, Cllr Bevan and I allocated £6,000 each to local projects – which has benefitted many community initiatives, thanks to the funding received.”
The Councillors’ Initiative Fund is open to one-off and new aspects of existing projects that give demonstrable benefit to the community to improve the social, economic or environmental wellbeing of a particular area.
Cllr Sarah Bevan added: “Over the last two years we were able to award funding to pay for new defibrillators outside The Prince of Wales Inn and Red Post Inn, WiFi to be installed at St John’s Community Hall, brand new signage to be erected at either end of the village, and for children’s play days to be held on The Green and Beacon Field.
“The Ward Councillor Initiative Fund really does go to supporting the grassroots projects that need it the most.”
Since 2015, Cllr Walker allocated funding for:
- New curtains at St John’s Community Hall.
- Summer educational play days on The Green, run by Peasedown St John Residents’ Association.
- New equipment for Peasedown Athletic FC.
- The Peasedown St John Children’s Breakfast Club, run by St John’s Church.
- New defibrillator at the Red Post Inn.
- A new entrance sign to the south-end of the village
- Festive workshops at Dorothy House Outreach Centre
Cllr Bevan’s funding supported:
- New defibrillator at the Prince of Wales Inn
- Wifi for St John’s Community Room
- Play sessions on Beacon Field for Children
- Laptops for Peasedown Residents’ Association
- ‘Chess in Schools’ at Peasedown Primary School
- A new entrance sign to the north of the village
Funding is open to any group operating in Peasedown St John, Carlingcott or Braysdown.
With £2,000 each, Karen and Sarah have a degree of flexibility over how and when the money is spent.
They’d like to hear from anyone who’d like to apply by Friday 26th May. Based on the number and content of applications, there may be an opportunity for further applications to be made later in the financial year.
To request an application form contact Cllr Karen Walker on 07968 401447 or email [email protected] or Cllr Sarah Bevan on 01761 420141 or email [email protected].