A Stoke-on-Trent gardening project has been awarded funding from Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis’ people power fund to keep its equipment safe,
The Action Group has been given £2,690 to support them in purchasing and installing security equipment to store their gardening tools, used in their local project for locals.
The gardening scheme benefits many people in the area including three local schools as students can get involved with activities. The centre will provide 100 volunteers a year, with skills improving employability by engaging with adults and young people.
As part of his commitment to local communities, the Commissioner is providing £500,000 in 2014/15 through the People Power Fund in the form of grants of between £100 and £3,000.
The fund is supporting locally-driven community safety activities in communities throughout Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
Mr Ellis said: “The project is a great scheme and I am thrilled to be providing the centre with money that will help to reduce crime and will allow young people to gain essential skills needed for the future.”
Linda Hamnett, Centre Manager said: “Chell Area Family Action Group and Fegg Hayes Residents Association are working in partnership to provide a gardening project for the local community. It became apparent soon after it started that secure storage of the tools and safe keeping of the greenhouses for the project was going to be a problem. The opportunity to apply for funding from the People Power Fund gave us an opportunity to solve this problem. The successful bid brought £2,690.40 extra funding to the project which allowed us to purchase three Site Tool Safes and two security lights.
“These items have helped us to reduce the danger of the equipment for the project from being stolen, and therefore reduces the opportunity for crime and vandalism being committed. In turn this helps to increase public confidence.”
Marie Mitchell, Chair of Fegg Hayes Residents Association said: “The garden project involves local volunteers and school children and is working to improve local spaces including a community garden and the centre grounds. The involvement of people who find themselves out of work is leading them to improve their employability skills and we have happily supported some of our volunteers back into work.
“We would like to thank one of our local PCSO’s Jon Steventon for supporting our bid and also Matthew Ellis for offering this scheme and improving our opportunities to offer projects to the community.”
For more information on the Chell Area Family Action group call 01782 878843 or email lindahamnett.cafag@yahoo.co.uk.
