Strong Foundations Grant awarded by our Civils division

As our Strong Foundation Grants are finalising for 2022, we are pleased to share the winners of grants from our Civils division.

Congratulations to the following organisations who were awarded a share of the £25k fund allocated by our Civils division. Several of these organisations attended the recent topping out ceremony of the A533 Express bridge, where they were presented with their funding cheques. 

• The Barlow supports the community of Edgworth in Lancashire. The funds are going towards restoring local woodland, which has two overgrown islands, homes to numerous frogs, toads, insects and a badger set. The project is going to clean up the site, remove dead trees, and re-build the ponds to encourage a wide diversity of plant and animal life. Excess wood will be chopped and given to people in need with fireplaces/stoves. This will also form part of a forest school for the local primary school, creating learning from nature. 
  
  
• Jump Children's Charity provides children living with a life limiting or threatening condition and their families a professional photoshoot to be remembered and treasured forever in a memory photobook. The funds will go towards supporting 'Family Memorable Days', paying for professional photography for attendees and ensuring they can support more families and children in need. 
  
  
• Tabley Parish Council operate the Mere and Tabley Community Club. They have done some extensions of the facility, and these funds will go towards installing a new disabled access to their new patio area, so that all members can be welcomed and enjoy this community space. 
  
  
• Phoenix Community Archery Club is a local archery club in Runcorn for all, aged 4+ of all abilities. They operate in an open field year round, which gets wet and muddy, causing many sessions to be cancelled due to health and safety issues. The funding will go towards a raised decking platform with wheelchair access, and a cover for bad weather. Many members suffer mental health issues and in the Winter months, archery is often the only time they leave their home, so this will support and encourage social connections and a boost in wellbeing.
  
  
• Following the death of 6-year-old Bobby Colleran in a tragic road accident in 2014 ‘The Bobby Colleran Trust’ was initially established to create awareness campaigns about road safety. With the ultimate aim of preventing further loss of life, the trust advocated for changes in speed limits in school catchment areas (which it achieved), ran road safety assemblies for children and created Bobby Zones under the campaign ‘Slowdown 4 bobby’. Following on from this the trust then established ‘Take Care for Bobby’, a new initiative that seeks to provide free mental health and bereavement services to children and young adults. This campaign was introduced to combat long NHS wait time. The funding will go towards providing 20 children and their families with a minimum of 10 therapy sessions per family. 

It was great to be able to share the day with three of the selected charities and groups from the Strong Foundations Grant. The delight expressed as to what the funds will provide and means to the members and users, was a joy to listen to. Our reward will be seeing the benefit and enjoyment it will create.

Aidan Brannan Delivery Director

• Scopes4SEN donates telescopes and educational material to UK locations who cater for special educational needs, handicapped and vulnerable young people. Telescopes and educational material help inspire these young people, giving them a chance to explore the Moon, planets, stars and more. The funding will cover the cost of travel ready telescopes and other accessories and education materials and the subsequent distribution to young people. 
  
  
• Wilmslow Lightning Netball Club has around 160 members from Under 6/7s, through to senior squads. They have a Back to Netball programme, aimed at women 35 years and older, who either want to get back to playing netball after time away or seek to play for the first time. The funds would support this programme, including 12 months facility hire, equipment, coaching and a hardship fund to support those on lower incomes who would have a financial barrier when joining. 
  
  
• The 23^rd Manchester Scouts have operated since 1907, leading groups from aged 6 -14 in a variety of programmes. These groups are supported by a close knit group of adult team leaders. The funding will purchase a smokeless Yukon fire pit, which will allow around 50 children to learn safe fire building skills that they are rarely able to practice due to their urban location. This fire pit is suitable for many of the children with asthma who are unable to participate in traditional fire building and associated activities, making this an inclusive activity. 
  
  
• The 1^st Knutsford Scouts have three age groups  from 6-14 years old. They are the oldest group in their district. The funding will support creating an accessible entry route to their new headquarters, which is also used by the local Knutsford community. 
  
  
• Elworth Cricket Club is a friendly, sociable and inclusive cricket club. The funds will go towards the refurbishing costs of their clubhouse. This will both serve the existing and future members of the club, as well as the local community that use the space, which include over 20 various community groups. 
  
  
• DBA Sport is a not-for-profit sport development organisation, that creates sustainable sport and physical activity opportunities. The funds will go towards creating an out-door learning space, gym and activity trail in Sandiway. The aim is that this space will unite the local community by increasing participation in physical activity and sport, and therefore improving mental health and wellbeing. 
  
  
• Winton Wanderers FC is a football club with over 600 boys and girls signed-up, from ages 4-17. The club has grown from five teams to nearly 50 in the last eight years. The funding will go towards purchasing and updating training equipment, to support all members of the club.

Congratulations to all our Civils grant recipients.

“It was a privilege to be able to facilitate the Civils Strong Foundations Grant and distribute funds to so many good causes that will have such a positive impact on the local communities.”

Patrick Cumming Senior Project Manager