Eight community projects share £61,55 from Frodsham Wind Farm funds

EIGHT projects have been awarded grants totalling £61,500 in the latest round of awards made by the Marshes Community Benefit Fund from payments made by Frodsham Wind Farm Limited.
It was the 10th round of the twice-yearly awards made since the Marshes Community Benefit Fund was established in 2016.
Panel members analysed each of the applications and performed due diligence to ensure that they were able to agree to award the money to the recipients, from Helsby, Frodsham, Ince and Alvanley,
The successful applicants were:
Mersey Weaver Scouts: Made up of 17 Scout groups which includes a Sea Scout group, recognised by the Royal
Navy, A Young Leader Unit, four Explorer Scout Units and a District Network provision which cater for young peoplereceived £22,544 for an all-weather area and target sports range.
Alvanley Cricket Club: £18,554 to provide a new Grounds Store away from the car park location of the existing store which, built by volunteers some 36 years ago, is no longer meeting the needs of the club.
Frodsham Bee Friends @ The Hive: £3.319 will enable them to create opportunities for people to come together across the community of Frodsham, Helsby and Elton. Their focus is on the those identified as socially isolated. The funds will provide resources to support the projects outreach facility, the idea being that ‘The
Hive’ a wellbeing hub, based within Frodsham’s Castle Park, will able to be replicated across the catchment area through a series of pop-up hive spaces.
The Helsby & Elton Patients Participation Group (PPG) plays an active role in the concept
of developing community care, the £2,000 awarded will go towards providing a welcoming, cozy Care Community Corner within the GP practice, the area will have three supportive chairs, access to appropriate IT information and a coffee table. The cozy corner will be
hosted by a PPG committee member and other supportive groups such as Maggies, Age UK, Mind, OPAL, Diabetes UK and Benefits Adviser to name a few.
Helsby Community Sports Club: have received £5,094 to provide a Pavilion Canopy and Defibrillator. The pavilion canopy will allow all year-round access for all ages to the Crown Green bowling on the new artificial greens. The defibrillator will be an essential addition to
the club allowing them to safeguard the 130 members against medical emergencies that require lifesaving first aid. It is hoped that providing the defibrillator and the extra cover more members of the community will be encouraged to join in the clubs’ activities.
Ince Neighbourhood Plan Group will receive £7,164 to ensure that residents are able to have a say in local community objectives and plans around such things as wildlife and biodiversity, greenspace and heritage.
One Voice Community Choir have received £379 to purchase equipment that will improve the experience for the audience when the choir perform at community events festivals and in support of local charities. It is hoped that this will also attract more members to join the choir
Red Lion Bowling, Frodsham, have received £2,500 to purchase Bowling Equipment. Which will help the club further expand its membership.
New chairman of the MCBF Panel Andrew Jones said: “I’m delighted to have joined the MCBF Panel and I am looking forward to working with the
panel to continue supporting community-based projects in the areas surrounding the Frodsham Wind Farm.”
Mr Jones thanked former chairman Dianne Walker for the significant contribution she had made to the panel since its incorporation.
“The wide selection of applications for this round of funding demonstrated how the funds provided by the panel continue to add value to many organisations and individuals in the region.
“Panel members will be monitoring the projects as they develop to ensure they meet the objectives and conditions set out in the signed award agreements with good governance and we look forward to seeing the benefits from the funds provided.”