19 community groups receive share of £15,000 for environmental projects
Representatives of some of the winning groups at the awards event
Community groups across Shropshire have benefitted from grants totalling £15,000 as part of Veolia and Shropshire Council’s popular annual Envirogrant scheme.
The scheme offers money to projects which benefit the local community or the environment and has now distributed £30,000 in two years to organisations across the county.
This year’s grants were handed out recently at a special ceremony at Shirehall in Shrewsbury, hosted by Veolia and Shropshire Council. 19 groups were awarded grants of up to £1,000, and were able to showcase their projects during the event.
Representatives of each group/project received their award from Roy Aldcroft, Shropshire Council’s deputy Cabinet member for climate change, environment and transport, and Steve Mitchell, Veolia regional director.
Nearly 50 entries were submitted for Envirogrants this year. Projects which received funding included money to plant new trees and hedges at Bridgnorth Rugby Club, a freezer for Shrewsbury Food Hub and the creation of a wetland area in Grinshill.
The full list of groups awarded grants is:-
- Lower Bush Farm CIC SEND – Forest School improvements
- Harlescott PCC Church of the Holy Spirit – Enhancing the Memorial Garden and surrounds
- The Historic England Foundation – Flaxmill Maltings Flax to Fibre Plot
- Cleobury Country Ltd – Wooden planter restock
- Dorrington Village Hall – Dorrington Community Garden Polytunnel
- Friends of Stanmore Country Park- Enabling conservation work at Stanmore Country Park
- Bridgnorth Rugby Club Trading Ltd – Bridgnorth RFC trees and hedges
- The Shrewsbury Furniture Scheme – Upcycling project
- Restoring Shropshire’s Verges Project – Restoring Hope Bowdler verges
- Jenna Blair Yoga Community – The Connection Garden
- MakeSpace Arts & Well-Being CIC – Studio Garden
- BizEd Projects CIC – Climate cafes for young people
- Grinshill Parish Council – Creation of a wetland area at Corbett Wood, Grinshill
- Parish Council of Stoke upon Tern – Reflecting with Nature
- Shropshire Wildlife Trust Whitchurch Branch – Access Greenfields
- Whitchurch Waterway Trust – Whitchurch Canal & Countryside Project
- Bridgnorth Community Garden project – BCGP and St Mary’s School
- Lovelyland Ltd – Free community climate change workshops
- Shrewsbury Food Hub – Operation Chill (freezer)
Steve Mitchell, Regional Director for Veolia, said:-
“The Envirogrant scheme really fits in with Veolia’s mission to be the leader and driving force towards ecological transformation – indeed many of these projects will help us to deliver that. I am sure that the grants we are making will make a significant difference across Shropshire. We are delighted to be able to contribute to such a diverse range of projects.”
Ian Nellins, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for climate change, environment and transport, said:-
“This presentation was a great opportunity to meet people from, and listen to descriptions of, community environmental projects across our county. Volunteers from all over the county gathered at Shirehall to share their experiences and have grants totalling £15,000 donated to their work by Veolia. The 19 successful applicants were very pleased to receive a part of this generous grant scheme.
“I would like to thank Veolia for their hospitality and supporting activities in Shropshire by funding the grant scheme.”
Applications for the next round of Envirogrant will open in the autumn. Details can be found on the Veolia Shropshire website.
Further information
As part of its recycling and waste service Veolia delivers in partnership with Shropshire Council, the company gives £15,000 to support the local community each year. Each group can apply for up to £1,000 for their project. Projects range from creating forest schools, vegetable plots, upcycling projects to starting climate change cafes. The full list of this year’s recipients can be found below.
