Wokingham

Wokingham District Council’s executive has approved more than £320,000 worth of grants to community and voluntary groups and more than £60,000 worth of contributions to the Wokingham district’s economic development, as part of an overall package of support that equates to more than £2 million.

The Wokingham executive approved the grants for 2007/8 to organisations dedicated to helping people in the Wokingham district. These go to small community organisations such as local support groups as well as larger charities that operate locally such as the Wokingham Citizens’ Advice Bureau. The executive approved a total of £328,921 worth of grants on Thursday February 22, including six new grants, totalling £9,700, to Berkshire MS Therapy Centre, Crowthorne Old Age to Teens, Earley Churches Link Line, St John Ambulance Society, Wokingham Crossroads and Wokingham Dyslexia Support.

The executive also approved £61,240 contributions to economic development throughout the Wokingham district. These will go to the Wokingham Town Centre Steering Committee, Woodley Town Centre Management Initiative, Twyford Village Centre Management Initiative and Wokingham Job Support.

The annual voluntary sector grants are part of the overall package of support Wokingham District Council gives to local voluntary and community groups in recognition of the considerable work they do in providing a wide range of services to local communities. The council has discretionary powers to direct resources to supporting local voluntary and community sector development, including annual revenue grants, service level agreements, economic development work, accommodation grants and discretionary rate relief. For 2007/8 this will equate to more than £2 million.

Cllr Dianne King, executive member for community development, said: “I am delighted the executive has approved these grant bids, which reflect the wide range of vital work carried out by the voluntary and community sector and the importance the district council attaches to their efforts.
“It was pleasing to be able to maintain the level of grant funding plus inflation wherever possible a move that increases support to the voluntary sector at a time when we particularly need its help.

The grants approved included ongoing funding for the general running cost of organisations that have three-year core grant agreements in place. These core grant agreements give organisations the stability to plan ahead because their grants are approved as a contribution to general running costs for three years subject to monitoring at the district council’s annual budget process. Wokingham District Council has ongoing three-year agreements with: Council for Voluntary Action-Wokingham District, Indian Community Association, Pakistan Community Centre, Just Around the Corner, Mobile Information Centre, Wokingham Access and Resource Counselling and Wokingham Job Support. Wokingham District Council is also seeking to renew its existing core grant agreement with Wokingham Citizens’ Advice Bureau from April 1 and negotiate a new one with Wokingham Volunteer Centre for its volunteer development centre.

The Council for Voluntary Action-Wokingham District, the main umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector, played an independent advisory role in the grants process. Applications for grants were subjected to a thorough review and financial appraisal.

Wokingham District Council