COMMUNITY projects across Redditch have been handed almost £250,000 through a Commonwealth Games legacy fund.
Heart of England Community Foundation has announced it has distributed 388 grants totaling £11.8million through its Inclusive Communities Fund, established to empower communities to tackle local challenges.
Inspired by the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the fund supports community-based organisations, offering them access to new opportunities and legacy funding from the event.
The figures means that Heart of England Community Foundation has completed what would ordinarily be approximately four years’ worth of grant-making in just seven months, making this fund the largest programme it has ever delivered.
There were 10 Redditch projects selected for the funding – among them were Up Foundation CIC, which was handed £38,507 to deliver weekly sports sessions for 10 to 13-year-olds, The Old Needleworks Foundation, which was given £14,000 to help support staff costs for a wellbeing group coordinator and to facilitate a weekly programme of activities and interest groups within the community cafe.
Carers Careline was also given £26,677 to support the mental and emotional wellbeing of carers in the town.
The Inclusive Communities Fund is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund, which is using the underspend from the games to ensure the positive legacy reaches right across the region and for many years to come.
The Heart of England Community Foundation is the administrator of the Inclusive Communities Fund across the region.
Tina Costello, chief executive of Heart of England Community Foundation, said: “I feel so fortunate to have chaired the majority of the community grant panels, meeting new people with fantastic knowledge and experience of our region, and reading all of the wonderful applications we received.
“The range of activities is simply incredible and I am so proud of everyone involved in helping us to deliver this funding to frontline organisations.
“The diversity of the organisations and projects we have funded will drive change and create real impact — a fantastic legacy from the Commonwealth Games.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing this impact come to life in the coming months.”
