Page 5 - link magazine

Big Local Partnership Committee toots back at whistle-blower ILES JEWELLERS
Lots of hard work has gone into getting people on board and setting up the administrative framework since
Toothill was awarded £1 million by the National Lottery under the Big Local programme in July 2010. However 3 MARKET STREET
recent claims by an anonymous critic have sought to discredit the progress made and chair Kareen Boyd and Swindon SN1 1RZ
her deputy Peter Egan want to clarify the facts. Tel: 01793 525948
Commenting on the actions of Describing the committee’s role Commenting on the long term
the whistle-blower Kareen said: “An Kareen said: “It exists to establish nature of the award, Big Local repre- Established in 1972
individual provided the daily press whether residents’ aspirations meet sentative for Toothill Helen Garforth For all your watch,
with misleading information. We the lottery’s criteria, and to match said: “Big Local is about doing things clock & jewellery repairs
would invite this person to renew community objectives. We cannot right, not necessarily doing things
their involvement and work for the fund council responsibilities.” quickly. Residents in Toothill are Many carried out
good of Toothill.” The initial grant of £30,000 to cover deciding how to use their funding over in just one hour
Key achievements so far include: start-up costs was placed with Swin- at least 10 years to make their area an
• Set-up community engagement don Borough Council as an interim even better place to live.” Batteries fitted from
activities since 2010 using £30,000 local trusted organisation responsible To get involved mail your interest £4.95 while you wait
Big Local start-up money; for releasing funds as directed by the to: [email protected]
• First formal Toothill Partnership committee.
Committee established in March This money is now exhausted,
2013; having been spent on engagement,
• First community chest funding local groups, events, gathering outline Foster for Swindon
cycle opened in October 2013. requirements and administration.
Currently none of the £1m has However a further £20,000 is being
been released as the mandatory re- released for pathway funding, to assist People Like You - Providing a Home
quirements set by the lottery are not in getting the lottery requirements
yet complete. in place.
Make a big difference to children
and young people in Swindon. Foster.

01793 465700
[email protected]
fosteringswindon.org.uk

Residents of Toothill will receive a 2014 calendar delivered with the January
Link. Printed on magnetic material it will include significant Big Local dates
under a photo collage of Toothill buildings by Cheryline Gonsalves who won a
competition organised by the Big Local committee. She is pictured with chair-
person Kareen Boyd and committee member Peter Egan
Explaining this Peter said: “Several Identifying an early opportunity to
complex matters are being addressed release funding into the community
in parallel and this takes time.” the committee is making most of this
Meanwhile, the fund resides with additional money available via bids of
Big Local and not, as other media less than £500. The committee is now
reports claim, with Swindon Borough working on the means to access the
Council. £1 million for larger bids.
The Partnership Committee com- Kareen said: “We have initially
prises 11 individuals, nine of whom earmarked £15,000 as an excellent
are Toothill residents. Kareen, of Old opportunity for community funding
Town, is the only chairperson so far. prior to the £1m being released.”
Toothill Community Cafe
Open for tea, coffee, cake, breakfast and lunch
at Toothill Community Centre on Mondays, Wednesdays
and Fridays, 9am to 1.30pm
Vacancies for a paid supervisor and volunteer staff.
See details at www.toothillcafe.co.uk
swindonlink.com • December 2013 5

1-18 December 13.indd 5 14/11/2013 16:19