Council dishes out £130k between voluntary groups

Jill Hood said it was "humbling" to see rising sports stars applying for the money

Seven voluntary organisations will get a cut of more than £130,000 to continue their work across Staffordshire.

The boost, from Stafford Borough Council, will benefit charities as well as rising sports stars and community groups, who can apply for small grants.

The council's cabinet agreed to approved the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) grant policy on Friday to spend £130,250 to enable the extension of the current grant agreements until 31 March 2026.

Councillor Jill Hood, cabinet member for community, said it was "humbling" to see the applications being made for the sports grants.

The organisations that are benefitting:

• Citizens Advice – £60,000

• Support Staffordshire – Stafford District – £22,250

• Staffordshire Women's Aid – £15,000

• Stafford District Arts Council – £10,000

• Katharine House Hospice – £3,500

• Douglas MacMillan Hospice – £2,500

Alongside these organisations, £10,000 will be given to Stafford Borough Small Grants Scheme, and £7,000 to Stafford Borough Sports Grants Scheme, with the funds for both handed out by the Community Foundation.

Those who can apply for small grants are registered charities, not for profit businesses, community interest companies, community-based organisations, and town and parish councils.

'Plethora of talent'

"It makes you realise what a plethora of extremely talented young men and women – and sometimes elderly men and women – are in our borough," said Hood.

"People who have benefited from our sports grant include a 12-year-old girl for the national Badminton England Under 13s.

"She's a champion and her grant will go towards, travel, training, equipment – she competes nationally in Slovakia and Holland."

Other recipients include a young girl who is part of the British Cycling Club, and a young man using the funding for a football scholarship.

"At the moment, when the future of this council is in some doubt, the question: 'What has the borough council ever done for me?,' is on people's lips," said councillor Tony Pearce.

"It's as well that we recognise that, in addition to the statutory services we provide, we support the wider community and in particular those organisations supporting the most vulnerable in our society."