Somerset groups benefit from £15,000 of Mendip Housing Community Chest grants » Housing » 24dash.com

Four Somerset organisations have benefited from a total of £15,000 in Community Chest grants from Shepton Mallet-based housing provider Mendip Housing.

Mendip Housing, which is a member of the Aster Group, has helped to fund some summer fun planned in Street after awarding Elmshurst Junior School Parent Teacher Association £970 to put on two weeks of free fun activities during the long summer break in August.

Mendip Housing’s Community Development Manager Beverley Breeds said: “We liked the sound of this project which could help to tackle some of the boredom young people can feel during summer holidays. We aim to support projects which offer school holiday activities after our tenants told us recently this was one of their top priorities for us. Organised activities like these can help to tackle anti-social behaviour on estates which improves everyone’s lives.”

New Horizons Befriending Scheme has been given £4,715 to fund a group befriending project in Glastonbury, Street and Wells. New Horizons is using the grant to trial group befriending by setting up four groups across Mendip which will meet regularly to help tackle members’ feelings of isolation.

Glastonbury’s Blue Wren Project is also building on a grant received last year from Mendip Housing after receiving a further £4,320 to fund a weekly clinic for people with drug and alcohol problems, offering complementary therapies in longer sessions to help them tackle their addiction issues.

The Somerset Polish Community Association will be using the £5,000 grant it has received to help establish its services in Frome for the whole of the Mendip area. It aims to provide advice, information and practical assistance to Polish speakers, including a weekly drop in service where clients can get advice and English language lessons. It also wants to use the grant to establish a volunteer befriending scheme to support the English conversation classes. The association also wants to carry out a survey to establish the barriers being faced by the Polish community as well as become the place for local organisations to come to for help and advice about reaching this particular community.

“Our Community Chest funding is available to groups who work towards preventing social exclusion and building sustainable communities. Our role as a housing association is not just to provide affordable housing to those who need it but also to help build good communities and neighbourhoods for everyone. Each year we have £50,000 to award in Community Chest grants to local organisations who can help us achieve this goal,” added Beverley Breeds.