Town Council awards grants to local organisations

Councillors awarded grants totalling £4000 to local organisations at the meeting of the Finance and Policy Committee on Monday September 21.

£1500 was awarded to Carer Support Wiltshire. This local charity supports unpaid carers living in Marlborough and elsewhere in Wiltshire by providing them with breaks. Since lockdown, many carers have experienced feelings of loneliness or isolation. Carers are often under ‘virtual lockdown’ for years as they prioritise the care for their loved ones before the needs of their own.

The grant awarded will go to Carer Support Wiltshire’s ‘The Time for Carers Appeal’ which removes any financial barriers and provides equal opportunities for carers from all backgrounds to get the breaks they need; whether that’s going swimming, taking the kids to a football match or going to an art class with friends.

1st Marlborough Guides will receive a grant of £500. For several months, due to Covid restrictions, the group was unable to meet other than on Zoom. Some activities are now re-starting and more are being planned which adhere to social distancing measures.

The group now needs funds to build up supplies for activities and meet other costs. Subscriptions are harder to find as some parents have been made redundant or are being furloughed. Group leaders have also been unable to access grants from central government.

Guiding is open to girls between the ages of 10-14 and takes in new recruits as well as those coming up from Brownies. There are currently 22 girls who belong to 1st Marlborough Guides.

The final grant of £2000 was awarded to the Love Marlborough Kids Meals initiative which provides hot meals to children who need them. It is hoped that 24 families can be supported by December and the organisation would like to provide a food hamper for Christmas. For more information read the Marlborough.news article here.

After the meeting Kymee Cleasby who set up Love Marlborough Kids Meals commented on Facebook, “The wonderful Marlborough Town Council have just voted to grant us £2000 to enable us to carry on and provide hot meals for kids who need them. Thank you.”