Newsroom Archive

This year, all 54 ward councillors will each have £5,000 to allocate to community projects in their ward, which is an extra £3,000 to support communities in their Covid-19 recovery.

Since the councillor grant fund was introduced in 2011, the council has awarded more than £918,000 to councillors to fund over 1,200 community projects. The list of projects benefiting last year here.

Telford & Wrekin Council leader cllr Shaun Davies said: “We have acted swiftly to support our community through the pandemic and will continue to do all we can as we recover together.

“So many people have experienced a difficult and isolated time over the last 15 months, so I see the Councillors’ Pride Fund as an opportunity for ward councillors to help local community groups and centres welcome people back safely. 

“The funding could also be used to improve local green spaces which have been well used during the pandemic, for green projects that reduce carbon emissions or schemes that encourage people to reduce, reuse and recycle. As long as the projects benefit the local community, how the money is allocated is at the discretion of the ward councillor.”

Laptops for Learning, breakfasts for children and young people, community benches, speed indicator devices, energy efficient heaters and play area improvements were just some of the many local projects that benefitted from the Councillors’ Pride Fund last year.

Cllr Paul Watling, cabinet member for cooperative communities, engagement and partnerships, said: “There were some really great examples of how the funding really does make a difference to local communities. It’s amazing how small grants can make such a big difference.”

Speaking about the difference the funding made to Brookside Ward, cllr Arnold England said: “The funding was a real boost for me and cllr Jackie Loveridge in so many ways. 

“As well as laptops for local school children, it paid for a community fridge at a nursery, benches for the community garden, Christmas presents for children and elderly residents living alone, barriers to prevent the illegal passage of off-road biking, coats for the Funzone team and hi-viz bibs for Telford Chin Woo students.”

Cllr Gemma Offland, Hadley & Leegomery Ward, added:  “Laptops were also a priority for me, as I wanted to ensure that children who didn’t have a computer were able to learn from home.  I was also able to allocate funding to the Leegate Centre to help make it Covid-secure, provide cleaning equipment, toys and resources for Leegomery Under Fives, food for those in need during lockdown, a new bench in Hadley high street as well as a number of other local youth projects. 

“I am very happy to hear that there will be additional funds this year for me to do even more to benefit the community.”

Ward councillors have until 31 January 2022 to allocate their £5,000 community funding. 

Anyone who has a community project that they would like to put forward for consideration is asked to contact their local councillor. Find your ward councillor here.