Four community groups to benefit from 10k funding in West Gorton

Pete Wallroth, Dot Whitaker, Kelly Johnstone, Angel Sweeney and Mike Edwards

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Four community groups in West Gorton have received funding from the West Gorton Opportunities Fund, launched in April this year by local housing provider Guinness Northern Counties.

The fund will share a total of £50,000 between various community projects between now and 2014. In Round One, announced this week, residents voted unanimously for the first £10,000 of funding to be divided between Armitage Primary School Stay & Play Group, Parent’s Café, West Gorton Youth Project and the 50 Plus Group.

The money will help to provide much needed equipment and improve facilities for the winning groups, including new toys, sensory equipment, day trips, team building residential events, coffee making facilities and cooking equipment along with training in First Aid and Food Hygiene and courses in cookery and baking

Kelly Johnstone, Community Worker based at Armitage Primary school where the Parents Café and Stay and Play groups are based said: “This is fantastic news for these groups and is going to help all the parents and kids learn even more skills and build their confidence”

Pete Wallroth, Community Investment Manager for Guinness Northern Counties said “We are really pleased with the response to the first round of the Opportunities Fund, not only in terms of the number of residents that voted but the range of projects that were put forward. The community can look forward to seeing these exciting projects develop over the next few months and beyond.”

Guinness Northern Counties launched the £50,000 initiative to develop opportunities for West Gorton residents and projects that could benefit the community.

Funding is broken down into five rounds of £10,000 and you don’t have to be a Guinness Northern Counties’ resident to apply. Applications for the second round will open in September 2012.

Bids can be submitted by any individuals, residents and community groups, even local schools and centres, provided their application is for something that will be of benefit to the community or improve the life of individual residents living in West Gorton.

Guinness Northern Counties, which owns and manages 775 homes on the West Gorton estate is administering the fund as part of its ongoing commitment to the regeneration of West Gorton.

Once an application is approved, applicants receive funding within four weeks. Progress of the project and spending is then monitored by Guinness Northern Counties and applicants have 12 months to spend the funding.

Application forms are available from Guinness Northern Counties office at 18-20 Anthony Close, West Gorton or direct from Pete Wallroth, Community Investment Manager on 0845 605 9000 or email customer.service@guinness.org.uk