with a little help from some friends
An Ealing charity that needed to raise £25,000 to receive match funding from the government has achieved its goal, thanks to a donation from local housing provider A2Dominion.
The Ealing and Brentford Consolidated Charity (EBCC), which had the £25,000 doubled to £50,000 through the government’s £ for Pound initiative, will use the cash to fund grassroots projects that help local people living with limited means.
The charity had a limited time to take advantage of the government’s Grassroots Challenge Fund for 2009/10, which matches ‘pound for pound’ the donations it receives.
After an appeal for help, A2Dominion, which has thousands of residents in the boroughs of Ealing and Brentford, made a donation of £25,000 with contributions from its own Community Involvement Fund and pledges from a number of its business partners."
Simon Hall, A2Dominion’s Community Regeneration Director, said: “We are delighted to support this initiative which will help hundreds of grassroots groups in Ealing.
This is an exciting and once only opportunity to provide a legacy to help these groups that play such an important role in our local area.”
Maria Gledhill, Chief Executive of EBCC, said “Many of the beneficiaries of the grassroots grants to date are tenants’ associations and community groups working on deprived housing estates.
Today, especially during difficult economic times, housing providers need to use their influence and finance to lever in resources to create strong sustainable neighbourhoods.
We are delighted that A2Dominion has made this significant investment in Ealing.”
Sir Bob Kerslake, Chief Executive of the Homes & Communities Agency, said: “I am really impressed with the work EBCC is doing through grassroots grants; it’s a great example of how small organistions with an understanding of location ambitions can make a big difference in communities.”
EBCC was asked to manage the Grassroots Challenge Fund in Ealing because it has a good track record at identifying local causes that need support, linking people that care to causes that matter in Ealing.
The money raised will support community projects in Ealing such as:
• art workshops for local people with learning disabilities
• a confidential helpline for young people in distress
• holiday activities for children in Ealing
• a home-visiting service for older people to combat isolation
• allotments where families can grow their own vegetables
• healthy living programmes for older people in Ealing, to improve fitness and well-being.
JUNE 2, 2010
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