Funding boost for charity helping young Swindon people

Youth Action Wiltshire has been given a £2,500 grant from the Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy Community Fund.

The organisation, the youth arm of Wiltshire charity Community First, helps young people in Swindon and across Wiltshire.

It says it will put the grant toward the running of conservation and environmentalist activities which will form part of its summer Splash programme. 

The programme offers young people going through challenging times the chance to take part in engaging outdoor pursuits, with the aim of increasing their confidence, self-esteem, and skills.

The WWCE Community Fund grant will ensure that it can deliver its summer programme in full and give more young people the opportunity to meet and build friendships with others in similar circumstances, while learning about local, national, and global climate issues.

WWCE Community Fund chair Jon Bateman said: “The WWCE Community Fund exists to provide essential financial support to inspiring projects like these across Wiltshire. Since its formation, the Fund has helped ensure the continuation of a host of initiatives engaged in the conservation of local wildlife, climate change mitigation, and tackling fuel poverty. 

"It’s always a joy to see our grants being put to use by such deserving causes.”

Julian Barlow, chair of WWCE and a trustee of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, which administers the Community Fund, said: “The provision of significant local community benefits is central to WWCE’s vision. Surplus funds generated through our renewable energy projects go straight into our Community Fund to support local initiatives which align with our own objectives of reducing carbon emissions and protecting wildlife throughout Wiltshire."

The WWCE Community Fund is managed by a panel who meet four times a year to review applications and allocate grants. 

Further details, including information for would-be applicants, can be found at www.wwce.org