By Leah Conway –
Over the summer, local community buildings across Kirklees will be supported to recover by Kirklees Council’s Community Buildings Recovery Grants scheme.
43 local organisations have received support from the grant scheme. The scheme offered up to £20,000 for community and voluntary organisations whose income suffered from national lockdowns and COVID-19 restrictions.
Kirklees council have granted £470,000 across the 43 organisations. The hope is that the grants will provide a vital boost to community organisations, helping them recover from the impact of COVID-19. This way, the community organisations can continue to support local people throughout Kirklees.
“Fundamental”
Cllr Cathy Scott, Deputy Leader of Kirklees Council and Cabinet Member for Housing & Democracy, said: “Community organisations are incredibly important for people’s wellbeing. We wanted to make sure that community buildings can continue to be safe places for people to get together and enjoy activities as part of our recovery from Covid-19.
“The Community Buildings Recovery Grants have clearly mattered to the local organisations who are so fundamental for keeping people connected and safe. We’ll continue to work proudly alongside these dedicated and inspiring groups in our local places.”
“The show will go on”
The funding has made a positive impact on the grant recipients. Mary Mercer of Outlane Methodist Church said: “We at Outlane Methodist church are looking forward to resuming as many of our former activities in the community as we can and making plans for going ahead with new ideas.
“We do not expect it to be easy, but the boost given to our finances by the generous grant we have received has made such a positive difference to our situation.”
Deborah Hall from Howlands (Dewsbury and District League of Friendship) said:
“The pandemic had a devastating effect on our fundraising efforts and our income. This grant will help plug the gap in our finances so that we can resume the full services that we provide to our members and volunteers as soon as we can. As we are a base for other community groups and rent rooms to other organisations, the funding will also be of benefit to the wider community. “
John McKernaghan from The Brunswick Centre said: “Receiving funding from the Community Buildings Recovery grant is so helpful. After a very difficult 16 months for the charity, this funding will hasten our ability to recover, allowing us to sustain our work and services for local people in need of support.
“Kirklees Council have been supportive throughout the pandemic, and we’re grateful to them for the information sharing, advice, ongoing support and now this funding to aid our recovery.”
Bob Newton of the Southgate Theatre in Honley said: “The pandemic had cut our income to zero, and the theatre was on the verge of closing for good. The community buildings recovery grant has changed this by giving us a much-needed cash boost. Now the show will go on!”
Revd. Ray Borrett, Minister for Cleckheaton Methodist Church, said: ‘As we’re reliant on community groups that hire our community centre, we have had to put off work that would have greatly impacted the people who we serve through the community centre positively.
“The grant awarded to us by Kirklees Council will allow us to develop the community centre further, with the additional benefits that a modern, safe, accessible community centre will bring to the communities around Cleckheaton Methodist Church.’
Local support
Kirklees Council continues to work with Third Sector Leaders Kirklees (TSL) and aims to listen to local and community organisation needs.
TSL Kirklees support people and organisations to connect so that they can help each other. They also signpost and share advice on things such as training and funding opportunities.