Hertsmere Borough Council

01/25/2023 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/25/2023 04:04

Councillor cash for worthwhile local projects

A whole host of local projects from diversity celebrations to community groups have received a much-needed boost thanks to financial contributions from borough councillors.

Our Ward Improvement Initiative Scheme (WIIS) gives each of our 39 councillors £750 to spend on local projects throughout the year.

This financial year, April 1 2022 to 31 March 2023, there has been 26 different applications made, which gave a total spend of £16,155 to groups and organisations that are actively supporting the community.

Councillor Meenal Sachdev, Portfolio Holder for Community, Leisure, Culture and Health, said: "Our Ward Improvement Initiative Scheme is all about helping small projects in local areas to benefit active communities. The most recent group of schemes to receive support really shows the wide range of programmes and activities that can benefit from this funding.

"WIIS allows councillors to support their local community through a wide range of programmes and activities. I'm so pleased that we've been able to support a range of community groups and charities across our borough through this latest round of WIIS funding."

Within the last quarter, £7,530 was spent across a variety of different applications. Among the top recipients, were Christmas in Potters Bar to support the light switch-on event; Hertsmere Mencap for a trip to Warner Brother Studios and Sebby's Corner towards purchasing equipment for their Hub.

Smaller pots of money were given to organisations such as the National Animal Welfare Trust for equipment for their new facility; Potters Bar Foodbank for providing emergency food to people in crisis and Unity Network to go towards the Annual Diversity Fund.

The Ward Improvement Initiative Scheme for 2023-23 will close on the 31 March and will reopen for 2023/24 applications in June 2023.

For more information about the Ward Improvement Initiative Scheme, please visit our WIIS page.

Posted on Wednesday 25th January 2023