Shell donates £18,500 to community groups
03/03/10
Five city groups have received a cash boost from Shell UK as part of its project to help people in regeneration areas get involved in community planning.
The firm has pledged to donate up to £20,000 a year for three years from the Shell Community Fund. The focus this year is on community empowerment.
The Fund had committed to annually identify five projects that would support community empowerment in specific communities and run in 2009-10, to involve and/or acknowledge Shell in the process, and reflect on the impact of the projects.
The projects had to be new initiatives which were about communities doing something for themselves. The projects could focus on any activity that: supported people to work together; made a desired change happen; and increased the power or influence people have in their community.
Steve Harris, head of communications for Shell in Aberdeen, said: "Our community programme reflects a wish to be a good neighbour in areas where we operate. All the projects which have won funding will see local people coming together to use their initiative to provide benefits for others in their community."
Grants have been made to:
- Mastrick Parent's Café Crèche - A group of parents previously supported by their health visitor who wanted to create their own organisation to provide mutual support to local parents and young families. Their first initiative will be to start a lunch club with crèche and they will continue to focus on needs around health, learning and parenting. This project has been awarded £4,000.
- Cornhill/Stockethill Neighbourhood Network - This network involves local groups and people working in the area. They will use the grant to support a year-long project to improve local communications and community involvement through a range of initiatives, including setting up a team to run a community newsletter, holding a community listening event and expanding community participation in the neighbourhood network. This project has been awarded £4,000.
- Tillydrone Community Council Men's Drop-in - The community council wants support and encourage local men over 26 years who are not taking part engaging in any community-based facilities, but who have said they would like opportunities to take part in activities and classes that promote healthy lifestyles and positive health choices. This will include support to any concerned about alcohol or drug misuse. This project has been awarded £4,000.
- Hilton Community Centre Cafe - Volunteers at Hilton Community Centre will use this grant to equip a café which will be a means of encouraging community involvement and giving local people access to opportunities for social interaction, information and nutritious food. It is intended to be a springboard for new community initiatives. This project has been awarded £2,500.
- Connected Middlefield Community Portal - This project will enable Station House Media Unit to work with local volunteers to develop an on-line community portal which will both bridge the digital divide by providing free internet access and promote community engagement in local issues and local activities. This project has been awarded £4,000.