Newsroom Archive

Since its launch in 2014, the ‘EnviroGrant’ scheme from Telford & Wrekin Council’s recycling and waste partner Veolia has awarded more than £93,000 to more than 100 community groups.

Projects in the latest funding round include beehives, defibrillators, outdoor activities, orchards, a mural, litter picking equipment, raised beds, PPE and habitats for wildlife.

Successful applicants were invited to a virtual celebration held today to meet the Mayor of the Borough of Telford and Wrekin Cllr Amrik Jhawar as well as representatives from the council and Veolia.

At the ceremony, Steve Mitchell, Regional Director for Veolia said: “Part of our work here is about giving to the local community. Each year, £25,000 is given to local causes to support local people as part of the added value element of our work. All in all, since being awarded the waste contract in 2014, £175k worth of added value has been put back into the borough, supporting, for example, Telford Crisis Support in their vital work, enabling them to set up a service providing items for babies and children. We’ve also worked with ‘Job Box’, to support people who face barriers to employment, enabling them to gain the skills, training and confidence they need to re-enter the workplace. And of course, we’ve supported many local community groups to make a difference in the community through EnviroGrant.”

All of the groups who attended today's event were unanimous in their thanks to Veolia and Telford & Wrekin Council for their grants. 

Kathryn Parkinson from Families in Telford, which is a volunteer run charity that provides services for under 5s and their families, said: “Without this money we wouldn’t be able to open again. We’ve had 12 months of our parents begging us to get going, because they’re struggling being at home with everything going on, so a huge thank you from the project and from all of our project members who could not be more grateful. Thank you.”

Colin Stockton from Wrekin Special Swimming group, which runs a swimming club for people with disabilities, said: “This grant will guarantee us staying open for at least another year which is a real bonus for us, so thank you Veolia from everybody.”

Councillor Lee Carter, Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said: “As a council we strive to make our borough a greener place to live and work, whether that’s looking after our greenspaces or keeping the streets clean. Our partnership with Veolia is a key part of this, providing excellent recycling and waste management with a high customer satisfaction rating and the delivery of financial savings which can be put into other vital council services. We’re delighted to work with Veolia, who are a net carbon reducer, meaning the services they provide actually lower the town’s carbon footprint. This is part of progressing Telford & Wrekin Council to become carbon neutral by 2030.”

The groups receiving grants in this funding round were:

• Aqueduct Primary School to help fund a defibrillator
• Arleston Community Centre to create a mural at the community centre 
• Wrekin Special Swimming group to help fund a swimming club for people with disabilities
• Friends of Dawley Hamlets Local Nature Reserve for community wildlife events and activities
• St Peter's Parish Church, Priorslee, to enhance the churchyard
• 2nd Wombridge Scout Group for litter picking equipment
• Holy Trinity Church, Wrockwardine Wood, for landscaping
• Ladygrove Primary School and Nursery, Dawley, for enhancing their outdoor classroom
• Meadows Primary School and Nursery, Ketley, for a wildlife area to enhance their outdoor learning
• Newport (Shropshire) Community First Responders for a defibrillator
• Families in Telford for extra PPE and equipment 
• Woodside Allotments & Leisure Gardeners Association for a beehive and other wildlife   projects/activities
• The Coke Hearth Improvements Group for a defibrillator
• Tibberton & Cherrington Parish Council to restore its village phone box for use as a community book swap
• Telford Steam Railway to help fund the restoration of the signal box
• Friends of Holmer Lake and Madebrook for trees for a community orchard
• Telford community first responders for kit for new volunteers
• Hollinswood & Randlay Parish Council for raised beds