Leeds community and environmental projects awarded grants totalling over £116,000
The Veolia Environmental Trust through the Landfill Communities Fund, has awarded three community and environmental grants.
The Trust have awarded Holy Trinity Church, Meanwood £50,000, the maximum grant which can be awarded. It will be used to help fund a transformation of the popular community hall on Church Lane. Opened in 1935, it is in desperate need of refurbishment. The work will improve access and install a new roof, new heating and lighting, a new kitchen, and disabled toilets.
The Trust grant of £39,750 for Hyde Park Source means that a community hub can be created for the Growing Together sustainable garden on Back Cautley Road, Cross Green. It will be a public facility based in a converted shipping container. It will have toilets, a kitchen and a community space. It will mean that activities such as gardening can take place on the site, whatever the weather.
A grant of £26,789 awarded to The Conservation Volunteers gives the greenlight for a complete overhaul of the adventure trail at Skelton Grange Adventure Trail and Wildlife Area, Stourton.
Skelton Grange is a popular community centre and nature area that has over 6,000 visitors a year. Its popular boardwalk is currently suffering from excessive wear and is rotting and is in desperate need of replacement.
The grants are three of 27 awarded by our Board to community and environmental projects in England, with a grant total of over £860,000. Since 1998 we have awarded over £2.2m to 62 projects in West Yorkshire.
We will now start working with the organisations to finalise their projects’ details, including their start dates, so that they can begin as soon as possible.
The Vicar of Holy Trinity Church Kingsley Dowling, says, “These improvements will enable us to keep the building open as a community resource for all. It will be a safe, modern building accessible to everyone and available at low cost.”
Project Coordinator for Hyde Park Source, Peter Tatham, says “The new building will enable us to expand and improve the current activities that the site offers, providing year-round opportunities for all to learn about food growing, biodiversity and environmental sustainability.”
Operational Leader for The Conservation Volunteers, Lucy Wheeler, says “This project will improve the visitor experience, allowing the trail to stay open in all weathers and enhancing the site.”
The Executive Director of The Veolia Environmental Trust, Paul Taylor, adds, “These organisations must be congratulated on securing their grants. We considered a record number of compliant applications during this round, so these projects managed to succeed in a very competitive environment. We look forward to seeing them start.”