Councillors’ Pride Fund goes a long way to help communities
Laptops for Learning, breakfasts for children and young people, community benches and play area improvements are just some of the many local projects that have benefitted from grants awarded by Telford & Wrekin Council’s Councillors’ Pride Fund over the last 12 months.
The £108k fund is available to 54 councillors serving communities across all 33 borough wards, with £2,000 allocated to each ward councillor to spend on environmental and wellbeing projects that benefit their local community.
Telford & Wrekin Council leader Cllr Shaun Davies said: “The last 12 months have been a year like no other. Many councillors have chosen to use their money to provide laptops for learning to support hundreds of local children who have fallen between the gaps of the national scheme and needed the devices for remote learning. In total, 44 councillors have donated £37,673 to provide laptops for local children.
“The fund is such a good example of how a little money can go a long way and make a real difference in our communities.”
Other projects supported in the past year include Telford United Foundation’s free activities and meals during school holidays with funding from Arleston and College ward councillors; new trikes for the children at Woodentops Day Nursery to replace ones that had been stolen with funds from Woodside councillors; and a fixed CCTV camera in Peniston Close and mobile camera to deter fly tipping paid for by Donnington ward councillors. These CCTV cameras are in addition to the fixed cameras planned for Donnington as part of the borough wide rollout.
Cllr Paul Watling, cabinet member for cooperative communities, engagement and partnerships, said: “The fund gives individual ward councillors the opportunity to use this money to benefit their communities. There have been some great examples of how the funds are making a difference this year, which is fantastic to see.”
How the money is spent is at the discretion of the ward councillor and the council’s community support team.
List of this year’s grant allocations, at 18 March 2021, here.
Details of the 2021/22 funding round will be announced in the coming months. If anyone has a project that they would like to be considered for the next round, please contact your local councillor. Local ward councillor details here.
