Community Grants Fund
We provide small cash awards, of up to £250, to local community groups, voluntary organisations and charities through our ‘community grants fund’.
If you are a member of a small group or organisation and think your group might benefit from a £250 grant, contact Veronica for details or an application form.
Bringing Communities Together
Although the West Itchen area is home to many distinct communities, there is limited integration between them. Residents in the different areas of West Itchen are concerned that they do not have strong relations with residents in neighbouring areas.
The Trust is helping local people to change this.
Working with residents’ in Newtown/Nicholstown, St Mary's, Kingsland, Northam and Bevois Valley we are holding a series of networking meetings to help strengthen the dialogue and support network across the inner city. The first meeting highlighted the need for the project as many participants knew very little about what was happening locally and are keen to work together on common issues.
The project equips participants with the skills and shared experiences to make a real difference.
Get involved and tell us your ideas on how you feel the community will be strengthened. The Trust will encourage and support you with developing some of the your ideas into actual projects.
If you live in any of the areas above and would like to get involved, contact Gulzar.
The Trust is committed to improving the street scene of the area and is working with local residents and the Neighbourhood Wardens to do so.
The first of the Trust's annual ‘Best Kept Street’ competition is now underway and is open to residents of Newtown, Nicholstown, Northam, Kingsland, Holyrood and St Mary's. With a trophy and £200 prize money for the winning street or block of flats, why not get together with your neighbours and submit an application form.
For more information or to register your street, contact Gulzar.
Our SO14 Enterprise Project's mission is to continue to regenerate the local area by helping the community to help themselves. A successful local business economy is an essential part of this regeneration and the goal is to encourage a thriving business community.
Rick Harwood, the project's Business Coach offers local ‘entrepreneurs’ the support they need by developing business plans, helping to bridge basic skills gaps, signposting to appropriate training courses and acting as a mentor. Rick's role goes beyond the realms of traditional business advice by offering a more hands on approach and is unique in that he concentrates his efforts on a one-to-one support basis. In doing so, he helps the entrepreneurs in the community develop skills and essential components of their business proposition in areas where they might not have the relevant knowledge or experience.
Although there are many mainstream agencies out there offering advice of varying levels, this Project aims to bridge potential gaps between these agencies and the people who simply have no idea who to approach in the first place, or indeed, the confidence to seek that initial help. The Project works closely with organisations like the Enterprise Agencies and the local Business Link and in doing has developed a great support network.
Whether you need help in producing a basic business plan or would like assistance in developing the right marketing strategy, the SO14 Enterprise Project is here for you.
Contact Rick on 07812 015675 or via email.
