A NEW booklet designed to raise awareness of projects being implemented in Basingstoke and Deane showcases where more than three quarters of a million pounds worth of grants is being spent.

The booklet gives an overview of projects funded by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Community and Voluntary Sector Grant Scheme between April 2015 and March 2018.

The £777,000 in grants to 22 organisations supported delivery of 26 different programmes which reached over 25,000 participants and involved more than 500 regular volunteers.

Among those to have benefitted from funding is the Young People’s Independent Counselling Service, which delivered 4,000 free sessions and supported 870 young people who were experiencing difficulties at home, school or in the workplace.

Educational provider RCS Ltd also received funding for its Get That Job! Programme assisting those facing complex barriers to find work or move closer to the workplace, achieving 7,000 visits and supporting 1,200 participants.

Funding was also awarded to Age Concern Hampshire’s information and advice service, as well as homeless and vulnerable individuals benefitting from free weekly football sessions at Queen Mary’s College.

The college received a grant to support this programme and worked with five partners including May Place and the Camrose Centre to deliver 140 sessions to more than 160 participants ranging in age from 18 to 37. Afterwards, 100 per cent of the participants said that the sessions had positively impacted their health.

In Tadley, The Hurst Community School was given funding towards its rural access get active project which aimed to improve sporting opportunities and participation in sport across the whole community.

The council is continuing to work in partnership with the community and voluntary sector and a new round of programme grant funding was awarded earlier in the year, supporting activities from April 2018 to March 2021.

These are designed to empower residents and help build resilient communities where people can thrive and feel they belong.

Cabinet member for finance, service delivery and improvement at the borough council, Cllr Robert Tate said: “We recognise the enormous contribution that community and voluntary sector organisations make to the borough. The services, activities and support they provide to thousands of local residents make a real difference to people’s lives, especially the more vulnerable members of the community.

“It is positive to see the breadth and variety of the programmes that have been supported and how the funding has unlocked additional support from other sources, helping to build a more sustainable and vibrant community and voluntary sector.”

Other borough organisations who received funding included Home-Start North West Hampshire, Inspero, Basingstoke Mencap, the Camrose Centre, Community Furniture Project, Basingstoke NeighbourCare and Fluid Motion Theatre Company.

To view the booklet visit basingstoke.gov.uk/funding.