PR Date: Friday, 12 March 2021 - 11:00am
Four community projects recently received a total of over £4,500 from North Herts District Council’s (NHDC) Southern Rural Committee.
Down the Woods CIC received £890* to run six Forest School sessions for adults. The sessions, which will take place in Hitch Wood near St Pauls Walden, will welcome adults with social isolation or mental health issues to get involved in the great outdoors.
In total, six people from Whitwell and the surrounding area, will participate in woodland activities, interacting with nature and mixing with people from different backgrounds while building their own confidence and self-esteem. Sessions are currently due to start in the summer, depending on government COVID-19 guidance at the time.
Caroline Langley, Director of Down the Woods CIC, said: “This money will be used to provide a rich, engaging, and pragmatic Adult Forest School programme. Hosted in a beautiful natural environment, these sessions will serve to bolster the clients resilience, social connection and positively impact their mental and physical wellbeing.”
Offley and Cockernhoe Parish Council received £2,000* to put towards the purchase of new play equipment for the Elmtree Avenue community field in Cockernhoe. Currently the play area only has two pieces of play equipment. The funding will be put towards buying a new seesaw, a surf rider stand on swing, zig and zag upright twister roundabouts, and a teacup twister that children can sit and swivel around in. Offley Parish Council will add the grant funding to their own funds in order to make the purchases.
Mr David Sample, Clerk to Offley Parish Council said: “A massive thank you to the Southern Rural Committee for granting this award of £2,000. It will bring joy and happiness to all of the families and children who will use the new play equipment.”
Holwell Parish Council received £744* to put towards the cost of a new notice board in the village. The current wooden board has become unsafe and rotten and the grant funding will help with the purchase of a new plastic, weatherproof board which will last for many years.
Offley and Stopsley Cricket Club received £1,000* towards the cost of upgrading the Cricket pavilion. The inside of the pavilion will be updated and modernised and electrics will be rewired at the site.
Cllr Claire Strong, NHDC Chair of the Southern Rural Committee said: “We are pleased to be able to help fund such a variety of projects within the southern rural district. Each project or piece of equipment will make a real difference to our local communities in their own way and for many years to come.”
*subject to completion of necessary formalities
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