Horsham District charities benefit from Saxon Weald fund

The company’s annual community grant scheme distributes around £10,000 to not-for-profit organisations working in areas where it provides housing.

Members of the Residents’ Action Panel formed the judging panel, considering more than 50 applications before awarding the grants.

The awards presentation evening last month saw 13 organisations from across the Horsham District receive money for a variety of good causes.

Saxon Weald’s chairman David Avery who presented the cheques said: “It’s great to be able to give a helping hand to so many organisations, who all make a significant difference to people who live where Saxon Weald provides housing.”

In Horsham the Sunbeam Swimming Club, which offers social or competitive swimming for children and adults with learning and/or physical disabilities at Horsham’s Pavilion in the Park received £500 to guarantee their pool hire for months to come.

Horsham Matters was awarded £1,000 for two stand-alone LED floodlights to eliminate the cost of hiring lighting for each event they run after dark.

Also in Horsham, the town’s Age UK branch received £500 to support a home visiting information and advice service for housebound, isolated older people and Horsham Sparrows Football Club was given £400 to pay for new goal posts and training equipment.

The ARK Horsham, a charity helping homeless people, received £700 to increase the salary of the only paid worker.

Elsewhere in the district the Village Bus of Slindon and Amberley will use its £1,000 grant for maintenance and running costs of the vehicle and Rudgwick Friendly Club received £600 to help with the cost of transport and entrance fees when visiting places of interest.

Saxon Weald gave the Music for the Memory Club, in Broadbridge Heath, £750 towards funding dancing sessions to help people combat social isolation and increase in confidence.

The Steyning Downland Scheme was given £500 towards a programme of educational events for young people focusing on protecting and conserving local wildlife.

Also in Steyning, Action for Deafness, which has a shop in the village, was given £500 to support general running costs and services which assist with social inclusion.

Children and young people of the district will benefit from funding in a number of ways.

Rhythmix, a charity which enables young people to get involved in playing music, was awarded £1,000 for the ‘Wishing Wells’ music in healthcare project where trained music leaders work by hospital bedsides to sooth children, responding to their individual needs.

Pulborough Youth Centre was given £850 to towards setting up a transition club for young people moving from primary to secondary education and Horsham Division Guides Campsite was awarded £500 to purchase a new metal shed to store equipment in and to repair the fence on the same site.

For more information about the Saxon Weald Community Grant Scheme go to www.saxonweald.com/about-us/community-grants