Earlier this month, our Grants and Youth Panel met to assess recent applications for Caring for the Cotswolds grants. Five Year 12 students from The Cotswold School (pictured) helped us allocate £20,000 to five new projects. This brings our total amount awarded this year to an astonishing £70,179. Our thanks to everyone who supports the scheme – business members, funders, and visitors to the area.
Supported projects this time include Longfield Hospice who will be restoring and enhancing their beautiful hospice gardens and improving access for patients and visitors; FWAG South West who are establishing an outdoor learning space for ongoing community engagement, and delivering practical workshops for the public focused on nature-friendly food growing, as well as shared harvest activities for residents from deprived communities; a community interpretation board in Stroud’s Slade Ward which has been co-created with the community and Stroud Town Council; a grant for Dialect Writers to support a writer in residence who will help enrich public understanding of seasonal change, biodiversity, land practices, and the deep stories of the Cotswolds; and an outdoor learning space being created by Friends of Woodchester Endowed School where pupils can learn about water conservation, sustainable growing, and the natural environment of the Cotswolds.
A fascinating range of projects, and we can’t wait to see how each one develops over the coming weeks and months.
Our next application window closes on 4th October – so if you’d like to apply for a little extra support for your project, please do check the details on our website.