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Projects the Community Fund has already helped
The Community Fund has managed to help many wonderful projects so far, here's some details on just a few of them.
Marton Community Garden, Rugby, Warwickshire - £5,597
Marton Playground and Playing Fields received £5,597 for the development of a community garden providing volunteering opportunities and including willow domes, rainwater harvesting, an edible garden, picnic area, and re-cycling scheme.
Following the easing of lockdown measures, Faye Chambers, Chair of Marton Parish Council, said it gave the whole community a boost to see work getting underway:
"It now feels so good that three months later, with careful adherence to guidelines, we've been able to start properly. We’ve started by making huge raised beds in the playground to encourage cross-generational growing and will be adding rainwater harvesting, composting, benches and welcome signs. Everyone involved commented how good it was to be working physically and socially for the community again. It made us all feel hopeful."
Families First - Worcestershire - £18,189
Families First are a community based project in Worcestershire offering online advice and support to vulnerable families on a wealth of topics including food and nutrition, physical and mental health and dealing with stress and anxiety. With the help of the Community Fund, the groups have been able to continue their services despite of coronavirus, including running Parenting Peer Support groups online, and keeping connected to families via video and phone calls.
Buxton CoderDojo, Buxton - £3,500
Buxton CoderDojo is a volunteer led club for young people to learn how to code. They received a £3,500 donation for their next water efficiency based project, to develop electric programmable systems to monitor soil conditions and create a process where plants are automatically watered, using only the right amount of water required. The coronavirus hasn’t stopped this project from starting as they managed to do everything virtually – so it’s meant this unique project has been able to crack on, keeping children occupied during lockdown and learning coding at home!
Rectory Wildlife Garden, Loughborough, Leicestershire - £10,000
Nestled between Fearon Hall, the Parish Church and the Old Rectory, which is now modern houses, is an odd shaped piece of land that was once the Rectory garden. It is being lovingly restored by a committed group of volunteers who want to create a usable, safe green space for local people to enjoy.
They have had their work cut out for them as the land was derelict, overrun with weeds, nettles and suffering from general misuse. But the hard work has started and after the efforts to clear the debris the new pond and paths are in place but there is still lots more to do.
The team have great plans in place to encourage local wildlife as well as preserving some of the original trees including an old mulberry tree that sits proudly right by one of the entrance gates.
As the seasons change and the work continues this green retreat right in the middle of Loughborough town centre will be one to watch as it develops from its once derelict state to a wonderful haven for wildlife and people alike.
"I am really pleased that Severn Trent are supporting this community garden initiative. The wildlife garden will be a real asset to the local community who will be able to get involved whatever their age, so good for children and adults alike, who may not have access to their own garden. A place that brings the local community together."
"With the efforts of the volunteers we will improve urban biodiversity and provide a tranquil space for Loughborough residents."
Food Farmacy Co-op, Derbyshire - £25,384
Food Farmacy Co-op Project believes fresh, organic food should be available to everyone. They received just over £25,000 from the Severn Trent Community Fund, so they can create health and wellbeing programmes all around food!
Their aim is to provide fresh, organic food to communities across Derbyshire, with specific programmes aimed to target wellbeing, such as boosting immune systems and reversing diabetes.
With the help of the Severn Trent Community Fund, the Farmacy team have been able to deliver fresh foods to families during coronavirus, providing people with ability to eat fresh and with confidence, by using locally sourced organic foods from the community.
They also offer in store health advice, run community events, walking clubs and cooking demos and are also using renewable energy and with zero waste!
Water and Bee-friendly allotment project, Staffordshire - £5,939
"We’re really excited that we’ve been able to support this wonderful project that uses sustainability to help create areas where wildflowers can grow, giving local wildlife the opportunity to thrive and bringing benefits to the local environment."
Uttoxeter Rural Parish Council have been awarded funding to create a wildflower verge to increase biodiversity and install water troughs at allotments in Stramshall, Staffordshire.
"Severn Trent were the natural partners for this project. We needed to bring water to the site, in a way that was sustainable by way of water troughs and after consultation with the plot holders, it became clear they also wanted the creation of a wildflower verge to attract bees and other insects to the site to pollinate the crops."
Fields Millenium Green, Kings Norton, Birmingham - £2,009
Sweet success for Fields Millennium Green!
Hidden in the residential Kings Norton Three Estates is a gem of green space, The Fields Millennium Green. Lovingly created from a wasteland and looked after by The Fields Millennium Green Trust since 2001, Maggie and Clive Sweet describe the space as a ‘green lung’ for the local community.
The Trust were successful in their bid for wildflowers, native trees and fruit trees for the community orchard, where all can help themselves to apples, pears, damsons, cherries and sloes for free.
The space has been thoughtfully landscaped to include a wetland area, playing field, storytelling and bushcraft nook, woodland play area, orchards, picnic areas and a willow tunnel - bringing conservation and wildlife back to Kings Norton.
Fruit and fallen trees are fully utilised to create jams and bird boxes, to sell at local fairs and raise money for the upkeep and continual improvements of the green.
We can’t wait to visit again when the wildflowers are in bloom.
Full list of funded projects
| Alveley Cricket Club - Community Garden |
Shropshire | £10,000 |
| Arkwright Meadows Community Gardens - Community Springs |
Nottinghamshire | £9,976 |
| Beckford Community Village Hall - Refurbishment Project |
Gloucestershire |
£10,000 |
| Berrybrook Primary School - Wellbeing Hub |
Central | £8,524 |
| Bishop Challoner College - Peace Garden |
Central | £2,050 |
| Blaby & District Spartans Inclusive FC - Setting Up |
Leicestershire |
£2,000 |
| Breast Cancer Haven - Support Groups for Younger Women affected by Breast Cancer |
Central | £2,952 |
| Brimfield and Little Hereford Bowling Club - Accessible Bowling | Shropshire | £3,000 |
| Brooke School - Garden School: a Brooke School and Local Community Project | Warwickshire | £13,743 |
| Bulkington Road Allotments Association - New WC and Cleaning station | Warwickshire | £2,000 |
| Buswells Lodge Primary School - Outdoor Learning Space | Leicestershire | £10,000 |
| Buxton Coderdojo - Environmental Coding | Derbyshire | £3,500 |
| COGS Prepares 4 Life - Saving Water for the Future | Stafforshire | £5,000 |
| Cope Children's Trust - The Wonders of Water | Leicestershire | £74,651 |
| Disability Direct - Plot to Plate Take Two | Derbyshire | £32,290 |
| Emmanuel House Support Centre - Allotment Project | Nottinghamshire | £4,905 |
| Evolve Nottingham CIC - 'Aye a minute' at Strelley | Nottinghamshire | £9,930 |
| Farmacy Co-op - Healthy Social Enterprise | Derbyshire | £25,384 |
| Forest Sensory Services - OWLS Project | Gloucestershire | £4,000 |
| Forest Town Nature Conservation Group - Spawn on the Maun | Nottinghamshire | £3,751 |
| Foxt Village Hall - Foxt FoSTering Friendships 2020 | Staffordshire | £5,464 |
| Friends of Lyme Brook - Wildflower Meadow Creation Scheme | Staffordshire | £5,891 |
| Gloucester and Forest Alternative Provision School - Dishwashers and Cutlery for Two Centres | Gloucestershire |
£2,000 |
| Gloucester Child Contact Centre - Upgrade of Resources: Supporting Children in Family Breakdown Situations | Gloucestershire | £2,000 |
| Grange Child Development - Development Sessions | Central | £7,697 |
| Harborough EcoVillage CIC - Community Room | Leicestershire | £8,949 |
| Harbury Heritage Group - The New Harbury Heritage Centre | Warwickshire | £9,721 |
| Haresfield Parish Council - Improvements to Langet Covert | Gloucestershire | £2,040 |
| Hathern Amenity Fund - Community Lounge Improvements | Leicestershire | £10,000 |
| Holme Pierrepont Canoe Club - Rafters Against Rubbish | Nottinghamshire | £10,000 |
| Howes Primary School - Japanese Peace Garden | Warwickshire | £10,000 |
| Impact 4Life Well-being - Healthier Lifestyles | Central | £9,900 |
| Imperial Avenue Infant School - Forest School and Allotment | Leicestershire | £9,440 |
| Kemerton Conservation Trust - New Boat and Onsite Storage Project | Gloucestershire | £3,600 |
| Keresley Grange Primary Academy - Outdoor Learning | Warwickshire | £2,500 |
| KIDS - Healthy Living and Wellbeing Project | Central | £10,000 |
| Kingfisher Treasure Seekers - Food at The Cavern | Gloucestershire | £39,255 |
| Lansdowne Allotment Association - Waterless Toilets for Allotment Site | Warwickshire | £9,341 |
| Leicestershire Search and Rescue (aka LeicSAR) - Team Development | Leicestershire | £4,180 |
| Little Rainbows Community Pre-School - Sensory Garden | Leicestershire | £32,464 |
| Market Harborough Lawn Tennis Club - Preparation for Community Use | Leicestershire | £9,999 |
| Marton Parish Council - Playground and Playing Field | Warwickshire | £5,597 |
| MHA - Relish: Supporting people living with dementia | Staffordshire | £8,208 |
| National Space Centre - Project: Marble - Earth from Space | Leicestershire | £249,860 |
| Nether Hall Special School - Mindful Forest | Leicestershire | £10,000 |
| New Swannington Primary School - Sensory Garden and KS1/EYFS Permanent Forest Garden | Leicestershire | £3,796 |
| North Warwickshire Borough Council - Atherstone Hatters Garden | Warwickshire | £9,510 |
| Nowka Bais CIC - Active Lives | Central | £8,450 |
| Oakwood Infant and Nursery School - Forest School | Derbyshire | £7,000 |
| Outwoods Edge Primary School - Learning Allotment | Leicestershire | £5,946 |
| PlayGROUND - Water Harvesting and Infrastructure at Greenaleigh Community Garden | Central | £9,963 |
| Rectory Wildlife Gardeners - Rectory Wildlife Garden | Leicestershire | £10,000 |
| Refugee Roots - A Place to Belong | Nottinghamshire | £22,800 |
| Richard Bonington Primary and Nursery School - Wildlife Pond | Nottinghamshire | £6,935 |
| Roots Out CIC - MyGrow Society | Nottinghamshire | £61,004 |
| Roundhill Allotments Association - Wildlife Area and Water Capture | Worcestershire | £6,710 |
| Saltbox - Money Matters | Staffordshire | £16,769 |
| Severn Valley Country Park Volunteers group - Country Pool | Shropshire | £5,412 |
| Shakti Women in the Community - Women Walking on Water | Central | £9,980 |
| Shipley Eco Action Group - Woodside Community Garden | Derbyshire | £6,243 |
| Sinfin Moor Allotments Association - Community Hub | Derbyshire | £9,091 |
| St Anne's Hostel - The Growing Project | Central | £2,535 |
| Staffordshire Wildlife Trust - Water for Wellbeing | Staffordshire | £70,190 |
| Suckley Parochial Church - Running Water to Wash Hands | Worcestershire | £4,360 |
| Summerwood Community Garden - Clean Green Clifton | Nottinghamshire | £7,715 |
| Sustainable Life - Woodland Work at Ten Acres | Central | £9,856 |
| The B37 Project - River Watch | Central | £5,705 |
| The Elm Foundation - Redecoration of Domestic Violence Refuges | Derbyshire | £16,119 |
| The Fields Millennium Green Trust - Wildflower Bulbs and Fruit Trees | Central | £2,009 |
| The Music Works - Gloucestershire Community Music Studios | Gloucestershire | £40,000 |
| The Old Needle Works Foundation - Families First | Worcestershire | £18,160 |
| The Peak Academy - Forest School Outdoor Cabin | Gloucestershire | £8,000 |
| The Sherwood Forest Education Partnership - Coding club with 3D printers | Nottinghamshire | £9,807 |
| The Skill Mill - East Midlands Canal and River Trust Project | Nottinghamshire | £10,000 |
| TURN Education CIC - Water for Wellbeing | Staffordshire | £8,000 |
| Uplands Infant School - Outdoor Learning Area | Leicestershire | £5,620 |
| Uttoxeter Rural Parish Council - Water and Bee Friendly Allotment Project | Staffordshire | £5,939 |
| Warley Woods Community Trust - Warley Woods Tree Nursery: Growing for a healthy future | Central | £6,527 |
| Warwickshire Vision Support - Health and Wellbeing 2021 | Warwickshire | £9,883 |
| WELLIES Project part of Staffordshire Care Farming Development CIC - Wellbeing Garden | Derbyshire | £10,000 |
| Westley Vale Millennium Green Trust - Creation of a Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) | Central | £9,989 |
Applying for funding from the Severn Trent Community Fund
If your organisation is registered not-for-profit, and the project you would like to fund will benefit Severn Trent customers, you may be eligible for a grant from the Severn Trent Community Fund.
