Published on:
19
March 2008
Clackmannanshire Community Chest committee is working with talented local youngsters who need a helping hand to achieve their goals.
The committee is keen to encourage a wider range of applications, and is working with Council services to identify talented local individuals such as promising sports people and gifted musicians.
The Community Chest has been helping organisations including playgroups and football teams to buy new equipment for the past nine years. Recently it has sponsored a couple of up and coming sports stars, with good results.
This sponsorship can help pay for fees, transport and general lifestyle costs of trying to be the best in their own field.
Paul Sutton, Retail Operations Director at Sterling Mills and John McGirr, General Manager, Sterling Furniture Group agreed: "There is a wealth of talent in Clackmannanshire, disproportionate to its population. However given the county's size, the facilities for elite sportspeople are not always readily available. We aim to help remove these kind of barriers to success and with 2012 Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth Games ahead, what a great chance to see some home grown talent succeed."
The Community Chest was set up in 1999 and has grants totalling £4000 available in each quarter. Up to December 2007 the fund had granted a total of £116,000.
The Community Chest is a fund to help local groups finance activities which would not otherwise be possible without the assistance. It was established through the generosity of local companies Sterling Furniture Group and Sterling Mills Outlet Village, and is administered by the Council.
While there are application criteria, each application is considered individually and considered on its own merits by the committee. Grants of up to £500 are normally available to community groups, but sponsorship of an individual would be more than £500.
Examples of recent grants include helping to fund the Alva Glen illuminations, helping a local Scout group and helping to pay for teaching materials at the Polish Club in Alloa.
Applications for the next round of grants will close at the end of April and be decided in May.
Application forms are available on request - please call 01259 452003 or download a form at www.clacksweb.org.uk.