At our recent grants committee meeting, we awarded £210,260 in to support a number of local organisations. We have a number of committee meetings during our annual grants cycle, and total funds awarded tend to reach ween £1 million and £1.5 million a year.
During this latest meeting, funds were awarded to Mark Rutherford School to enable them to provide a counselling service for pupils and staff. (Last year, we were delighted to fund a portable planetarium for the school which is widely used by the school and is offered out to the community).
Bedford Daycare Hospice applied to us for funds to enable them to offer their counselling service to patients. The Hospice offers individualised holistic care to patients suffering with a life-limiting condition from the point of diagnosis through treatment to remission or where required, palliative care.
Full House Theatre is a local group which seeks to 'enrich young creative minds, delight young audiences, and nurture a lifelong connection with the arts'. Our committee awarded funds to help them with their latest theatre project for young people with disabilities.
Bedford Creative Arts applied to us for funding to enable them to offer culture vouchers to schools which they can then spend on the delivery of cultural and creative workshops with their pupils. They can be exchanged with any Cultural Provider listed on the Culture Challenge Directory.
Meanwhile, the Elisabeth Curtis Centre, which provides horse riding for people with disabilities, was successful in its application for funds to replace the flooring of their arena.
Aquarius Action Projects offer support for young people affected by drug or alcohol misuse. They have received an award to fund a Specialist Complex Needs worker who will engage in outreach activity.
The Higgins Bedford were awarded funds to support them in their wellbeing outreach programme, a community partnership offering educational and artistic sessions for people with autism, dementia and those recovering from strokes or experiencing mental health issues.
And last but by no means least, we were pleased to be able to support a small organisation by the name of FLAG which runs a social group for people with disabilities. The grant will fund a part time salary for an administrator for the next 2 years, and the hire of a room to facilitate the group.
To find out more about applying for a grant and for the deadlines, please visit our help with applying pages.