BCP Council gives cash boost to foodbanks and play parks

The team at Poole Foodbank were able to refurbish an empty retail unit in Poole's Dolphin Shopping Centre to enhance operations

A children's play park and a town's foodbank are some of the community projects to receive money from a council's neighbourhood fund.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has awarded more than £316,000 to 28 services in the area.

The funding boost comes from its Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), generated from new developments.

Grants of varying amounts have been distributed after residents submitted ideas to develop their community.

This is the fifth round of funding awarded from the CIL to neighbourhood projects by the council.

To date, it has seen more than £1.5m allocated to 123 community projects.

Gill Payne, manager of Poole Foodbank, said the grant has allowed them to transform a working area for its volunteers

The team at Poole Foodbank has used a £9,700 grant to refurbish an empty retail unit in the town's Dolphin Shopping Centre to enhance operations.

Gill Payne, the foodbank's manager, said: "We are so grateful for the financial support that we have received from CIL.

"This has enabled us to transform an empty unit in central Poole into a working environment for our fantastic volunteers.

"This food store receives, sorts and stores donated food and serves as the pivotal point for distributing packages to our seven satellite venues that serve the people across the Poole area who struggle with food poverty."

More than £18,000 was awarded to St George's Play Area in Oakdale for an extra climbing frame.

Councillor Millie Earl, the council's deputy leader and portfolio holder for connected communities, said other projects included refurbishing disabled toilets at Merley Community Centre, installing environmental signage at Seaview and providing hanging flower baskets in Winton.

"We can't wait to see the results of all the hard work put in by our residents across Bournemouth and Poole," she added.

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