Is your group looking for funding? Why not apply for an Eric Wright grant?

The CVS administers a small grant fund in West Lancashire on behalf of Eric Wright Charitable Trust and there are still some funds in the pot for this financial year.

Grants of up to £500 are available to local voluntary and community groups with an income of less than £30,000. Groups can apply for projects that cover the following priorities: health, youth, older people, carers and education/training.

The Small Grants Pot has now been operating in West Lancs since 2018. Groups have used the funding to undertake a wide range of projects; here’s some recent examples:

Mental health drop-in sessions

Trinity church in Skelmersdale used a grant of £500 to run drop-in sessions for people who felt lonely or needed support (‘It’s ok not to feel ok’). Anyone was welcome to the sessions which included a range of activities such as painting, calligraphy & ceramics if participants wished to get involved.

Feedback for the sessions was really positive with one lady saying that she found the drop-in really helpful and another gentleman was quoted as saying that ‘he loved having the company.’

Wellbeing Café

The Burscough Hub Group decided to run a Wellbeing café to help reduce social isolation and improve quality of life. The grant funding was used to rent a room for two hours a week in order to run cafe. The café proved really popular and participants loved it:

“I look forward to Wednesday afternoons; it is the highlight of my week”.

“It is such a lovely friendly place, I usually hate going to places on my own but it doesn’t bother me when I come here. I know there will always be a warm welcome waiting for me”.

Welfare rights outreach project

Two outreach services in the rural areas of West Lancs were set up using a grant from Eric Wright. SWLICAN used the funding primarily for room hire, printing and mileage costs. The new outreach services allowed people to avoid a four and a half hour round trip to get advice and provided the evidence to help the organisation secure further funding to continue the outreach service (this is currently suspended due to covid but will recommence as soon as possible).

Circus workshop for children

Part of a grant was used to help support the provision of a circus act as part of a village fete and parade in Newburgh. The funding meant the session was provided free for children to learn circus skills, helping to improve their motor skills whilst having fun. Local refugees and their children were also invited and they were able to enjoy the afternoon of traditional Lancashire family fun, without worrying about the cost.

Grants were also given to
• a local group of older people to go on a Christmas meal
• Parbold Badminton club to buy new equipment,
• Hilldale Community Association to replace wheelchair and pushchair access at a well-used playing area in a small village
• Friends of Tawd Valley to buy two brush cutters to help in their battle against Himalayan Balsam

If your group is interested in applying for a grant from the Eric Wright Small Grants Pot, do contact Vicky at the CVS for more information: vicky@wlcvs.org or go to our website for grant guidelines and the application form: www.wlcvs.org/funding-advice/