WREN Grant Supports Village Achievement

For a community to raise funds of £1,000 towards renovating a children's play area is nothing unusual - but when that community numbers less than 70, this is a huge achievement!

The villagers of Gayton Thorpe, near Kings Lynn, have had a small piece of farmland identified as a recreational area for over 40 years, and the existing equipment was overdue for updating and improving.  WREN has awarded the Parish Council £15,000 to assist them with providing new equipment. Their community spirit doesn't stop at the play area though - they are raising funds to adapt their church to cater for other uses too!

Other grants provided this quarter by WREN include £6,057 which has been offered to Terrington St Clement village hall, for the refurbishment of their dated kitchen facilities.  Also, WREN has awarded their maximum grant of £50,000 to Methwold High School for the creation of a Community Sports Venue, which will support their new multi use games area, and also provide much-needed community facilities on the school site. It will accommodate a variety of uses, with changing rooms, small indoor hall, toilets and kitchen facilities.

The grants made under the Landfill Communities Fund (formerly known as the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme) look to improve community life by enhancing existing facilities as well as providing new facilities, including play areas & village halls. In addition, historic and religious buildings can also receive funding for restoration work.

Sarah Gosling, WREN Project Manager for Norfolk, explained: "Projects applying for grants from WREN are assessed by an individual panel of locally based experts in each county for their need, community benefit and support, sustainability and value for money. Each of these projects demonstrated individual benefits to their community."