NHDC’s Letchworth Committee awards grants to two community groups

PR Date: Thursday, 29 October 2020 - 11:00am

North Herts District Council (NHDC)’s Letchworth committee has awarded grant funding to the Letchworth Settlement and the 7^th Letchworth Scouts at its virtual meeting on 14 October.

The Letchworth Settlement, which has operated as an independently run education centre since 1920, is home to a huge number of the town’s best-loved groups and societies. Providing educational and creative courses and workshops, as well as rooms for hire by community groups including a young persons’ dance school, the centre was hit hard by the pandemic restrictions. 

Any adult in Letchworth Garden City and surrounding areas can sign up to courses and there are plans from the newly-formed committee to attract a wider age-range of students.

The Settlement has had to adapt to a new way of working and needed extra help to fund IT equipment to facilitate virtual classes and, groups. Letchworth Councillors were delighted to award The Settlement £2,000 towards this to enable its participants to have online access.

Chair of The Settlement, Hilary Kemp said: “Thank you to NHDC for giving a grant to The Settlement to purchase IT equipment. In the last few days, we have run our first events using Zoom and Facebook live, and hope to offer many more educational courses and events in this way in future. It helps us to reach new people and to provide an alternative way for existing supporters to experience The Settlement's courses, talks and music performances". 

The 7th Letchworth Scout Group were awarded a grant of £760 to assist the group with paying the annual census fee to the national Scouting body, so that the group can continue to camp, explore the outdoors and have fun once the pandemic is over. Usually this fee is covered by the group through funds raised running activities, but this wasn’t possible this year. The group, situated in Wilbury, provide wonderful opportunities for young people to be part of a voluntary global organisation enabling and empowering young people through fun activities and social education. 7^th Letchworth are always keen to hear from adults wanting to volunteer.

Jackie Hare from the 7^th Letchworth Scout Group said: "We are very grateful for the support from Councillor Grindal, NHDC and the Letchworth Civic Trust. This grant will help secure the Scout group, allowing it to provide skills for life to local young people."
 

Cllr Helen Oliver, Deputy Chair of NHDC’s Letchworth Committee said: “We hope this grant funding will enable these group to continue to provide their services successfully, for many more years to come. The Settlement has had an extremely challenging year, like many businesses, and we hope this grant will allow them to start delivering their courses again, all be it in a different way.”   

If you represent an independent and not-for-profit organisation working for the benefit of local communities in North Hertfordshire and you think your organisation could benefit from a community grant, go to our website here for more information: www.north-herts.gov.uk/home/community/grants/community-grants