A WIDE variety of groups across Tameside have been given a cash boost thanks to kind-hearted Rotarians.
Earlier this year, Tameside Rotary invited applications to its ‘Small Grants, Big Difference’ initiative to receive a share of the £7,000 raised from last year’s Santa Float collections.
To celebrate those who were successful, they held a presentation evening – attended by 75 people – recently at The Alexander in Ashton-under-Lyne.
The cash awards were distributed to 29 local groups which support a diverse range of projects – from preparing and delivering hot meals to vulnerable people, to developing and running community hubs.
They were: Tameside Meals SEVA Group; St Gabriel’s Community Group; The Grafton Centre; Charlestown United Reform Church; Menopause Your Way; Incredible Edible Mossley; St George’s Dementia Cafe; Tameside Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group; 1st Mossley Scouts; 40th Ashton Brownies; Fairfield Moravian Allotment Society; Friends of Vincent Park; Tameside Community Computers CIC; Ashton Town Team; Showstoppers Theatre Group; Friends of the Tame Valley; Soroptimist International; St John’s Band Mossley; Friends of Tameside Young Carers; Friends of Sunnybank Vale; Sparks Dramatic Society; Wings of Hope Ladies Group; George’s Kitchen; Mark Howarth; Willow Wood Hospice’s Flower Festival; Broadoak Brass Band; Christ Church Community Developments; Newton Cricket Club, and Broadbent Fold Primary School.
Reflecting on the night, President Manhar Taylor said: “We have been greatly humbled and inspired by the way small injections of cash can make a difference to these community groups and the lives of the local people they strive to help.
“Our Rotary volunteers work hard to put on fundraising events and being able to distribute the monies raised to so many diverse local causes is very rewarding. I do hope Tameside residents who donated to our Santa collection will be delighted to see how many local community activities our club has been able to support through their generosity.”
Rotarian Julie Nield worked as part of a small team of volunteers tasked to consider the applications.
“We received many more applications than we have funds for at this time and so this has meant some very difficult decisions had to be made,” she said. “We are sorry we couldn’t support every group but we thank them all very sincerely and encourage them to apply again in the future.”
The event was not without some surprises. Mark Howarth, who is participating in a Scout-led expedition to Madagascar in July, received a small cash amount to assist with expenses.
He was also given a special Tameside Rotary T-shirt to wear whilst working on community projects – such as building huts, schools and water stations, as well as venturing into the rainforest in search of Lemurs!
Ms Endeavour UK Great Britain, Leanne Nuttall, was on hand to assist guests and spoke about the impact of her role within the local community.
Tameside Rotarian Su Greaves was also presented with the prestigious Rotary International Paul Harris Award, in recognition of her hard work on behalf of the club and the subsequent positive impact in the wider community.
Su said: “I was surprised and humbled to receive this prestigious Rotary award. It’s been my privilege to support Tameside Rotary and the local community. The cash awards evening is, yet again, a positive affirmation of the work undertaken by so many volunteers and organisations who work tirelessly to support others.”
Tameside Rotary are continuing to plan for the Beer Festival in September, which returns this year to Stalybridge Civic Hall. Proceeds will be donated to Willow Wood Hospice and The Christie.