One Million Pound WRG Communities Challenge
Building on the success of last years Village Hall and Community Centre Challenge, where Waste Recycling Environmental (WREN) awarded £1 million pounds worth of grants to five winning Village Halls and Community Centres across the UK, it has just been announced that WREN will be running an exciting new Challenge throughout 2006/07.
WREN hopes that the new WRG Communities Challenge will build on this platform and appeal to an even greater number of prospective applicants by opening up the scope of projects that can apply to a much wider audience. Applicants are being encouraged to think about what would improve the community in which they live and can apply for projects ranging from children’s play areas, skate parks and community buildings to nature reserves, sensory gardens and public parks, with the aim being to breathe life into tired or rundown facilities or to provide much wanted new amenities.
This new community focussed Challenge will see WREN working with Local Authorities who will help to both promote the Challenge and participate in judging the entries in each of WRG’s operating areas.
The Challenge has been officially launched by the Hon Gwyneth Dunwoody MP who commented “I welcome this year’s WRG Communities Challenge. This wonderful scheme has not only benefited many worthwhile projects up and down the country, but it has given welcome publicity to WREN. The high standard of support for applicants and involvement of local people in the decision making process are important aspects of the success of the WRG Communities Challenge.
Gwyneth added “I am delighted to be involved and I have no doubt we will see a repeat of the enormous success of the Village Hall and Community Centres Challenge.”
Funding for the Communities Challenge comes from Waste Recycling Group Ltd through the Landfill Communities Fund (formerly known as the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme). This year sees the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Scheme and with WREN being the largest Distributive Environmental Body managing and distributing funding through the Landfill Communities Fund it’s Board of Directors, with the support of WRG, feel that running such an innovative and exciting Challenge alongside it’s usual grant programme is a fitting way to celebrate the significant milestone that has been reached.
Mike Snell, General Manager of External Affairs for Waste Recycling Group Ltd remarked “Waste Recycling Group is delighted to be able to support this exciting new WREN initiative. The Communities Challenge is an innovative way of using Landfill Communities Fund money to support important community and environmental improvement projects. I am sure, too, that the benefits of the Challenge will be felt more widely than just the immediate winners of the £1 million prize fund.”
Mike continued “WREN and WRG have worked together through the Landfill Communities Fund since 1997 and have a proven track record in assisting the regeneration of communities across England, Scotland and Wales, as well as providing meaningful benefits to those people living near landfill sites. I wish all of the community groups that take up the Challenge the very best of luck.”
Last year’s Village Hall and Community Centre Challenge encouraged a large entry response across the United Kingdom with the communities of Weir Doals, Lancashire and High Ongar, Essex rejoicing as they were awarded grants of £250,000 towards developing new community halls. Also enjoying a share of the £1 million prize were the communities of Normanton on Soar, Nottinghamshire, Thorpe Hesley, South Yorkshire and Bedford
Peter Cox, Managing Director of WREN explained “WREN’s main grant programme looks to help those communities who have grass roots projects that need funding, typically between £5,000.00 and £50,000.00, so it’s exciting to launch a new Challenge, which gives communities the opportunity to get much larger prizes and perhaps deliver a project that would have otherwise only been a pipe dream.”
Peter added “We have worked hard to ensure that we have made the application process as short and easy as possible for applicants to enter.”
Organisations are invited to bid for between £75,000 to £250,000 for capital projects which will make a real difference to their community.
For further information on the WRG Communities Challenge and to determine whether your organisation is eligible please visit the WREN website www.wren.org.uk or contact your Local Authority.
