From musical instruments to apple juicers – area board cash investment in the community

Everything from an apple juicer to a bell ringing simulator was funded in 2014 thanks to the Westbury area board grants scheme.

Local community projects benefited by more than £50,000 worth of funding last year, with the area board able to help organisations from Crosspoint and the Grassacres day centre for older people, through to the children’s centre, parent and carer groups, sports clubs and village halls.

Larger sums have helped projects such as the set up of a leg club by improving facilities in a community hall, through to the replacements of stiles with kissing gates on popular footpaths in and around the area.

Now the area board is inviting applications from community groups and projects for its meeting in February – the board has just over £11,500 of capital funds left to spend in this financial year.

Area board chairman David Jenkins explained, “We are delighted our grants system has been able to help such a wide range of local projects, but we are keen to do even more.”

If you would like to apply for funding for your community group find out more at www.wiltshire .gov.uk/areaboards where you can fill in your application online.

You can also contact your local councillor or community area manager Sally Hendry.

The Westbury area board, which is one of 18 area boards in the county, serves the communities of Westbury, Bratton, Coulston, Dilton Marsh, Edington and Heywood.