Cheshire good causes receive cash from Foundation

GOOD causes in Cheshire are to receive more than £45,000 in the latest round of grants from Cheshire Community Foundation.

Set up 18 months ago, and supported by a number of prominent business figures  – trustees include Pets at Home founder Anthony Preston, Sue Craven, founder of executive search company Armstrong Craven and retired Ernst & Young partner Jan Gregory.

The foundation is chaired by Joelle Warren, vice Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire and executive chair of headhunters Warren Partners.

The latest beneficiaries include a theatre school, swimming club, disabled group and a community centre.

The money has come from philanthropists whose donations enable the foundation to support community projects as part of its aim to ‘Make Cheshire Better’.

The charity has so far awarded grants totalling more than £370,000 since it was set up almost 18 months ago.

The latest recipients of funds are:
:: £8,000 to The Bren Project, a Chester-based charity. The grant goes towards the salary of a co-ordinator so people with learning disabilities can obtain more work placements in Cheshire.
:: £2,000 to Crewe Flyers Swimming Club for kit. The club is forging closer links with schools and aims to almost double membership.
:: £7,500 to Friends for Leisure, Congleton, towards the cost of a volunteer co-ordinator. The group helps young disabled people.
:: £3,000 to the Bridgend Centre, Bollington, so the community centre can buy IT equipment and improve its headquarters.
:: £5,000 to The Smile Group, Macclesfield, to help them reach more parents affected by post natal depression.
:: £2,000 to Little Actors Theatre School, Neston, to subsidise or offer free places to children of families on low incomes.
:: £10,000 to the Samaritans of Chester and District towards building refurbishment costs.
:: £6,000 to Body Positive to help with salary costs for an HIV caseworker.
:: £2,000 to The Willows Pre-School, Wistaston, Crewe, to help fundraising for a new building.
:: £850 to Friends of Woolston Park, Warrington, towards running costs of its annual show.  

Helen O’Donnell, chief executive of Cheshire Community Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to be able to assist these groups which carry out such marvellous work for the benefit of the community.

“We felt all were worthy of receiving grants to help them with their respective projects.”