School, Cancer Support Centre and Community Hub to benefit from Test Valley Borough Council Cost of Living Grants
A cancer support centre, school and foodbank are among the first organisations to benefit from Test Valley Borough Council’s £50,000 Cost of Living Grant scheme.
- The first set of grants have been approved
- The scheme was set up at the end of September
- Not for profit organisations and groups are still able to apply
Charities, not for profit and voluntary organisations, parish and town councils, and schools can all apply for a share of the money to help them support people who are struggling with the rising cost of living.
They can do so by visiting Cost of Living Grant Scheme | Test Valley Borough Council.
The council launched the new fund last month and it has now approved the first recipients.
Several organisations will each receive £1,000.
Harrow Way Community School, in Andover, will use the money to expand their established Breakfast Club to support more children. The grant for Jane Scarth House, a Cancer Support Centre in Romsey, will assist with energy costs to enable them to provide a warm hub for those living with cancer and their carers. The Freedom Church Community Hub, in Romsey, will provide a warm welcome space and hot food three days a week and the Royal British Legion Romsey to provide a warm hub.
Meanwhile, The Mountbatten School, in Romsey, have been given £585 for a Winter Breakfast Club and Citizen’s Advice Test Valley and Andover Foodbank have each been awarded £2,500 for caseworkers.
Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Councillor Phil North said:
“I’m delighted that we have been able to approve the first tranche of grants from our Cost of Living Grant scheme. This money will provide an important boost to groups and organisations providing support to our local communities and it’s vital we work together to make sure frontline organisations can help those most in need. I strongly urge any eligible groups to apply as soon as possible.”
TVBC has also created a Cost of Living Support Hub at www.testvalley.gov.uk/costoflivingsupport.
It provides useful information and signposts people to agencies and groups which offer a range of help, from local food banks to financial advice.