Thatcham pre-school takes home £3.6k grant

Nine groups were successful in the second round of Thatcham Town Council's funding

ALMOST £8,000 in grant funding has been awarded to local charities and organisations by Thatcham Town Council.

The town council's grant committee recently met to discuss nine grant applications in the second round of applications this year.

These included money towards an LCD projector for the Peter Allen Memorial Lectures and money towards sports and safety equipment for the Crookham Common athletics track.

After hearing presentations from several groups, town councillors voted to award the full amounts requested to each application, with the Pied Piper Pre-school receiving the highest amount, £3,600 towards its annual rent costs.

The funds were awarded to the pre-school despite concerns from Paul Jenkins (Lib Dem, Central Thatcham), who said that although he could support a one-off award, he would feel uncomfortable about awarding large sums of money towards rent year after year.

After the meeting, Pied Piper treasurer Mireille Willan said that she was delighted that the preschool had secured the money, adding that it would provide much-needed funds to help it continue at its current location at the Methodist church hall, Chapel Street.

Mrs Willan is also the project manager for Thatcham Vision, which was awarded £1,500

towards the cost of holding a volunteer fair in Thatcham, which is likely to be held in the spring.

Town councillor Lee Dillon (Lib Dem, North Thatcham) said: “If the council contributes £1,500,

the potential volunteering hours it could unlock would far outweigh this sum.”

Mrs Willan said that she was incredibly grateful to the town council for awarding the money, adding that it would help local community groups gain more volunteers, while also allowing people to find out about local organisations that needed volunteers.

Thatcham Town Council grants – where the money went

Pied Piper Pre-school – £3,600 for rent

Thatcham Vision – £1,500 towards the cost of a volunteer fair

Thatcham Town Cricket Club – £500 towards running and maintenance costs

Peter Allen Memorial Lectures – £500 towards an LCD projector

1st Thatcham St Mary's Scout Group – £475 towards camping table and benches

Crookham Common athletics track – £452.87 towards sports and safety equipment

RSPB – £430 towards the running costs of the Young Rangers group at the Nature Discovery Centre

Burdwood Baby and Toddler Group – £250 towards hall hire and equipment

Vitalise – £186 towards subsidy of a Thatcham resident's respite break

Total – £7,893.87