Health to heritage in Westbury area board's grants

9.25.00am GMT Mon 15th Feb 2010

Projects from healthy living to heritage were included in the 14 grant applications approved by Westbury area board last week.

The board agreed grants totalling £23,265 for a variety of organisations from Westbury and the surrounding villages. Board chairman Russell Hawker said he was delighted with the wide range of projects and groups involved. The applications used up the money available for this financial year.

"They touch many parts of our community and cater for old and young, able bodied and people with learning difficulties. It is a great cross section and I am confident the grants scheme will give a welcome cash injection to some very worthwhile projects," he said.

One project was to put up blue plaques marking a heritage trail around the historic streets of Westbury. The board agreed £1,500 as match funding towards the project.

Other funding will help provide a secure equipment storage shed for the Guides, realistic wounds simulation kits for first aid for Army cadets and containers for tents and equipment for the Scouts.

Fairfield Farm College at Dilton Marsh received £5,000 towards a project to improve catering training facilities. The farm college provides facilities for young people with learning difficulties and staff are even hoping the project may lead to the opening of an on site café giving valuable work experience to students.

Sports and fitness featured high on the funding list too, with grants helping to fence an extension to Bratton recreation ground, new practice nets at Westbury & District Cricket Club and water polo goals and equipment for Westbury Amateur Swimming Club.

Retired people will get the chance to get fit and meet new friends as part of one of the projects. The Fitness and Friendship Club will be held at Grassacres day centre in Westbury, and will provide both gentle exercise and social activities - organisers are even hoping it might include Tai Chi sessions in Westbury park. The project is backed by the Westbury BA13+ Community Area Partnership which itself received funding of £2,124. The board also helped by providing a laptop and printer for the White Horse day centre.

Relate received a grant of £990 to pay for a Westbury based counselling service for local families and children, while Westbury First Responders, which provides emergency first aid support, received £1,000 towards the purchase of a defibrillator.

People in the community will soon be taking part in a review of the future of the town thanks to a £10,000 vision and scoping study planned by the Westbury Town Council - and part funded by the area board.

The area board meeting on February 11 was the last in this financial year. However from April 1 the board will have a budget of more than £40,000 and is looking forward to receiving more grants applications from local organisations.

For more information about the grants scheme visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/areaboards or call community area manager Sally Hendry on 01373 864714 or email sally.hendry@wiltshire.gov.uk.