Good causes set to benefit from £50,000 Community Chest

Charities, community groups and good causes from across the county are being given the chance to benefit from the Hall & Woodhouse Community Chest, which is supported by this newspaper.
Hall and Woodhouse Community Awards Launch 2017 at The Bat and Ball, Wisborough Green. Pic Steve Robards  SR1704900 SUS-171003-153858001 SUS-171003-153858001Hall and Woodhouse Community Awards Launch 2017 at The Bat and Ball, Wisborough Green. Pic Steve Robards  SR1704900 SUS-171003-153858001 SUS-171003-153858001
Hall and Woodhouse Community Awards Launch 2017 at The Bat and Ball, Wisborough Green. Pic Steve Robards SR1704900 SUS-171003-153858001 SUS-171003-153858001

The community chest, one of the biggest cash givaways in Sussex was launched to much fanfare at the Bat & Ball pub in Wisborough Green near Billingshurst last Friday. Chairman of family brewer Hall & Woodhouse, Mark Woodhouse, launched the 15th community chest at a special launch event in front of an audience including Horsham MP Jeremy Quin, mayors and council chairmen from across the county and Adrian Barrott from the Sussex Community Foundation, which supports countless local good causes.

Since 2002 Hall & Woodhouse has given away an astonishing £455,000 both across Sussex and in Dorset through the community chest. During that time more than 4,000 applications have been received and 619 awards granted.

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The local community initiative awards grants of between £300 and £3,000 donated to worthy voluntary organisations across the region. Last year, more than £25,000 was handed out in Sussex alone.

At the launch Mr Woodhouse urged those present to encourage their communities to bid for cash by filling in the form, which this is published on this page.

Mr Woodhouse said of the community chest: “This is an example of us working together to improve the facilities and lives of local residents.

“We help voluntary organisations achieve their aims.”

Mr Woodhouse continued: “It is amazing how far the organisations make the money they receive from the community chest go. It really does help.

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“I never cease to be amazed, when we receive these applications, how often we say ‘I never knew they did that’”.

Gary Shipton, editor in chief of this newspaper, said: “The community chest supports a wide range of organisations and it helps keep our communities strong and vibrant. Hall and Woodhouse makes a world of difference and I am genuinely proud to be associated with this and be able to support Mark and his team.”

Judges, including Mr Woodhouse, Mr Shipton, Mr Barrott, Blaise Tapp also of Sussex Newspapers, and John Scudder of The Plough, Ifield near Crawley, will meet in early summer to go through the applications before deciding on a shortlist.

Most of those on the shortlist will be visited by the judges, who will then make their decision which will be revealed at a special ceremony, scheduled to be held in autumn.

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To bid for some of the community chest cash, see this week’s paper visit www.hall-woodhouse.co.uk

In Sussex in 2016 awards were given to:

A Band of Brothers - £2,000 - The organisation provides mentors and role models for young men, leading them away from self-destructive and anti-social behaviour.

Ansty Village Hall Trust - £450

Bells Yew Green Cricket Club - £500

Blueprint 22 - £1,500 - A youth support organisation which runs projects between Brighton and Bognor Regis.

Bognor Regis, Chichester and District Samaritans - £1,000

Burgess Hill Youth - £500 for a project which supports carers.

Chalk Farm Learning Disability Centre - £2,500

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CAMHSF (Chichester Area Mental Health Support Foundation) - £500

Court Meadow Group RDA - £1,500 - Based in Albourne, Court Meadow provides riding as a form of therapy for people aged three to 19 who have a wide spectrum of learning difficulties and special needs.

Crawley Community Youth Service - The service was given £1,000 towards a training programme for volunteers.

Embrace East Sussex - £300 - Embrace supports children with special needs or disabilities.

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The Friends of Ingfield - £750 - The Friends support Ingfield Manor School and School for Parents.

The Hangleton and Knoll Project - The community development charity was given £800 to continue its weekly youth drop-in service.

Home Start CHAMS (Crawley, Horsham and Mid-Sussex) - Home Start supports parents of children who are under five.

They were given £1,000 for a volunteer recruitment and training programme.

Horsham Matters was given £1,000 for youth club equipment.

Ifield Cricket Club - £1,000

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Kangaroos Mid Sussex, which runs activities for children and young people with learning difficulties, was given £1,175 for a sensory den.

Off The Fence Trust, based in Hove, which supports at risk’ people, were given £750

Pagham Cricket Club - £500

PACSO (Parents and Carers Support Organisation), based in Chichester and Arun districts, was given £600.

People Matter, which provides advice and support for jobseekers, was given £1,400

Pippa’s Group, a charity pre-school, was given £504.

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Rainbow Pre-School, in Furnace Green, given £250 for outdoor play equipment.

Southwick Cricket Club - £1,000

The Springboard Project - £1,500

St Joseph’s Specialist School and College - £500

Sunbeam Swimming Club was given £350 to hire a minibus to take members to a gala.

Sussex Search and Rescue - £2,000

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