‘Cops’ Create An Arresting Sight For Westham's 125th Anniversary
12.02.2008 19:34:00
A neighbourhood group is creating a community celebration day to mark the 125th anniversary of Westham with the help of a lottery grant of £5,400. The project is one of four in Dorset and 64 in the South West to share £450,211 in the latest round of the Lottery’s Awards for All programme announced today.
The Westham COPS community group, set up to celebrate living in Westham, will use the grant to hold a community celebration day at Conifers Primary School on Saturday 26 April. The event will feature a summer fete, community play, and performances by local bands to mark the 125th anniversary of the town.
Chris Edwards, Chairman of Westham COPS, said: “It’s all about encouraging a pride in the community. Without a central focus such as a community centre, it can be difficult for people to feel part of the town. The 125th anniversary of Westham is something to celebrate, and will not only give people a great day out, but also give them a sense of its history - and their importance in it.
“As well as a traditional summer fete complete with displays, fairground rides and craft fairs, we’re going to dig excavation pits in a ‘Time Team’ style where the Australian forces recuperated during WWI. We’ll also announce the winners of the town’s first ‘Prince and Princess’ of Westham, and the oldest and longest living residents. In the evening, a play about the town’s past and future will be performed by locals of all ages, and we’ll end the evening by giving local bands the stage. It’s a fantastic opportunity to give everyone a sense of pride in the town.”
Also benefiting from the latest round of grants is Charminster Parish Council, which will use its £9,700 award to create a wildlife reserve in Charlton Down.
Mark Simons, Chairman of the Parish Council, said: “The community has been asking for something to be done with the land next to the orchard, and a nature reserve will give the village a beautiful amenity. There will be a pond, landscaping, wildflower walkways, and carved seating created by the schoolchildren and local artist Rachel Huggett. Local villagers can take part in creating shaping the reserve into something they will truly enjoy. “
Bournemouth Citizens Advice Bureau is also awarded £10,000 to run a volunteer recruitment drive, targeting people from hard to reach minority groups and providing support, training and work experience and Blackmoor Vale RSPB Local Group is awarded £525 to buy a portable sound system for use at monthly meetings.
Awards for All is the small grants scheme administered by the Big Lottery Fund on behalf of Lottery good cause funders, Arts Council England, Big Lottery Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England. The scheme makes awards of between £300 and £10,000 to grass-roots community groups and voluntary organisations.
Mark Cotton, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for the South West, said on behalf of the Awards for All funders: “Sharing over £338,000 with so many community groups in the South West is a fantastic way to mark the start of a new year. Awards for All is delighted to help groups such as Westham COPS and Charminster Parish Council which are doing such wonderful work for their local areas.”
For a full list of award recipients visit:
http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/england/news.html
Client name: The Big Lottery Fund
Web link: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/
