The recently launched Neston & District Community Fund has helped ensure a Family Fun Day in West Vale Park, Little Neston, will go ahead.
A photo from the last West Vale Park Family Fun Day, which
will go ahead this year thanks to grants from Neston & District
Community Fund and Neston Town Council.
The Fund, which was set up in February, has donated 600 to match a grant of 600 from Neston Town Council to cover the total cost of 1,200. It will pay for insurance, First Aid cover, hire of a small marquee, tables and chairs, publicity, face-painting and a number of workshops including animal handling and crafts.
The fun day, which takes place in August, will allow organisers the Friends of West Vale Park to consult residents on its plans for the coming year.
Neston & District Community Fund was set up to support community and voluntary groups in Neston, Little Neston, Parkgate, Burton, Ness, Willaston and Puddington. Four businesses – Phillip Bates & Co Ltd, Clive Watkin Partnership, Rightway and G Tilby Engineering – launched the fund with a substantial initial donation.
Phil Bates, Principal at Neston accountancy firm Phillip Bates & Co, said: “We had no hesitation in providing funding for the West Vale Park Family Fun Day. Photo by Bernard Rose
“There has been a lot of interest since the Fund was set up and we expect to make a number of other donations in the coming months.”
Ian Mellor, Partner at Clive Watkin in Neston, said: “In addition to hearing from community projects looking for funding, we would also like to hear from fellow business owners and private individuals who would like to become donors to the Fund, enabling us to grow the amount of money available to local causes.”
The fund is administered by Cheshire Community Foundation, allowing it to secure additional funding from other funds operating in Cheshire.
Helen O’Donnell, Chief Executive of Cheshire Community Foundation, said: “We are delighted that the Neston & District Community Fund has made its first donation.
“It is an excellent example of local philanthropy in action and a model we believe can be rolled out across Cheshire.
“We help people who want to give back to the places in which they live and do business by connecting them to the local community and helping them invest in that community in an intelligent and impactful way.”
Since Cheshire Community Foundation was founded in 2012, more than 1.6million has been given in grants with in excess of 456,000 going to causes in Cheshire West and Chester.
Join the fund or apply for a grant
If you are interested in becoming a business or individual donor, please contact any of the four founders of the Neston & District Community Fund:
– Phil at Phillip Bates: 0151 353 0003
– Ian at Clive Watkin: 0151 336 7070
– David at Rightway: 0151 353 1500
– Guy at G Tilby Engineering: 0151 336 2339
If you would like to apply for a grant, please call Cheshire Community Foundation on 01606 330607.
