Customer Services
Community development
Funding
As part of the transfer of the housing stock to Roddons from Fenland District Council in 2007, it was agreed that £1 million would be spent on community projects and initiatives.
To date, approximately £400,000 has been allocated to groups and organisations all over Fenland and this has been spent on improving the quality of life in many different ways.
More than 70 voluntary groups,community organisations and statutory bodies have appliced for a slice of the Roddons Community Fund.
There is up to £300,000 available this year and applications poured in from all over Fenland from a wide variety of groups. The bidding round closed on March 31.
Many organisations have bid for the maximum of £45,000 to fund two-year projects which align with our priorities of tackling unemployment, financial inclusion and affordable warmth.
Many others have applied for smaller amounts to purchase equipment, run one-year projects, refurbish village halls and organise events.
All bids will be assessed this month by the Community Fund sub-group which is made up primarily of residents. Applications will be scored against a list of criteria to compile a short list. Applicants which get through to the second stage will then be required to provide more information or give a presentation to the sub-group. In some cases, sub-group members will make a visit to a group or a specific site.
A financial decision on which groups receive funding will be made by early June.
It is intended that the community funding will not only enhance the life chances of the residents of Fenland, but will leave a lasting legacy of contributing towards a more sustainable community.
For further information contact:
Wendy Coles
Community & Projects Officer
Tel: 01354 607243
Email: wendy.coles@circleanglia.org
Team Thomas Project
This ground-breaking initiative with some Year 11 pupils from the Thomas Clarkson Community College in Wisbech began in January last year.
It began with an approach from the school, to see if there were any opportunities for some of the least-academic students to gain work experience at Roddons.
The idea for a project which would benefit some of our residents came to fruition and
seven boys built a gazebo, planters, bird tables, and trellis for Boyden Court, one of the association’s sheltered schemes, attending one day a week.
Due to this success, Roddons decided to offer the students the chance to gain further skills which may help them in the future. So, two empty retail units in Wisbech, owned by Roddons were converted into a workshop and six of the seven young people returned for the summer term.
Under the guidance of one of our carpenters, the students learnt practical skills including tiling, plumbing, decorating and carpentry by each building their own ‘bathroom’. They also learnt valuable life skills such as team working and problem solving and as a result of this, several of the boys applied to go on to further education and training.
In September, we gained a new group of recruits and another five lads completed the same process. Working closely with the College, we also expanded the project to incorporate a portfolio of evidence which each student completed which will go towards a vocational accreditation.
Talks are now underway to work with students from Neale-Wade Community College in March on a similar type of project.
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