Success stories from the 2023/24 Small Grant Fund Round 1

A total of 95 applications were received in the first round of the 2023/24 Small Grant Fund scheme, with 20 groups successful in sharing £100,000 worth of grants. Residents who benefited include:

• A £9,950 council grant helped 25 participants over 12 weekly sessions to attend peer-to-peer space and workshop for perinatal women offered by Becoming Mums. Some of the positive feedback were- I’ve discovered I’m more creative than I thought I was”. “I’m so happy my children and I are free to be ourselves”.
• 624 children and parents benefited from Parenting Special Children project thanks to £4,900 grant awarded to PSC to improve the health and well-being of Reading Families.
• St Matthews church was awarded £5,000 by the council to run a warm hub. The project feed home-made meal on an average up to 50 people a week along with support for families with social services, mental health support and general pastoral support.
• 135 young people aged 11-17 years were supported by thought the counselling session provided by No 5 Young People utilizing the grant £4,995 awarded by the council. Counselling session helped to improve their outcome scores on Decrease in Self-harm, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts etc.
• 32 children and young people with additional needs were supported by the programme run by Me 2 Club. Thanks to £5,000 council grants to support and helping to achieve positive outcomes like more confident more independent, and less socially isolated and lonely.
• 40 vulnerable older people were served with 340 meals in South Reading using the awarded grants of £2,580 by South Reading Over 50s Social Club.
• 12 beds for children were distributed to families in Reading ensuring safe place to sleep for children. Thanks to First Days Children’s Charity for utilizing partial fund of £1286.53.
• Rank & File Theatre were awarded £5,000 to support weekly engagement sessions in a theatre studio at South Street Arts over eight months. The project benefits 55 people expanding the community engagement and artistic practise for minority group, creating skills for employment, creating a safe environment with support using trauma informed practise.
• 10 parents and 13 domestically abused children were supported via Bounce Back 4 Kids(BB4K) programme run by PACT with awarded grant of £5,000.
• 104 old age people living with dementia were supported through dementia club. Thanks to Age UK Reading for utilising £5,000 grants awarded by the council.
• Dance Reading was awarded £4,900 to provide inspiring and creative vocational training for young people with risk of becoming NEET(Not in Education, Employment Training). The awarded grants was productively used to support 25 young people who consistently engaged in the project taking part in activities and workshop.
• Reading Welfare Rights was funded £5,000 to provide specialist advice, support and casework services to the parents, guardians, and carers of adults with learning difficulties and autism.17 vulnerable adults and their careers were benefited from the awarded project.
• 138 children under 5 with SEND and their families in Reading were supported by Dingley’s Promise utilising the council’s awarded grant £4,778.97.
• 24 people from Reading were benefited from 4E’course delivered by Brown Community Services as a result of the council’s awarded £4,968 grant.
• 41 young people from Reading were supported using sport and physical activities to tackle health inequalities and improve mental health and wellbeing. Thanks to £4,807 grant to Sport in Mind.
• Double Okay was funded £9,994.50 for the project Double Okay LGBTQIA+ Making Sessions. At the end of the project 121 participants were supported by Making Sessions and 212 participants were supported via Queer Social.
• 65 Muslim women and around 90 children were supported by CMA and RBC Community Project. Thanks to £5,000 grant to Caversham Muslim Association.