Thanks a lot! Growers delight in cash boost (From The Oxford Times)

Thanks a lot! Growers delight in cash boost

7:00am Saturday 16th March 2013 in News By Emma Harrison, Reporter covering Rose Hill, Littlemore and Iffley. Contact me on 01865 425430

MORE than £10,600 in government cash has been given to 16 Rose Hill community groups to support their work.

Organisations including the estate’s junior youth club, the Lenthall Road Allotments Association and the Arabic Speaking Ladies Group are among the latest to receive Community First Funding.

Cathy Gibb, from the estate’s Lenthall Road allotments, said the £750 they received this month would be used to improve the communal area and car parking.

Ms Gibb said: “It is fantastic. We heard about the grants and applied and we are very happy.

“We have a space in the middle of the allotments and we are going to build a small shelter so when we have parties and it rains, it won’t matter.

“Hopefully it will make it more accessible for people who don’t have allotments. We are also improving the car parking as we don’t have much space.”

Ms Gibb said groups including Rose Hill’s Co-operative Nursery use the allotment space for picnics. About 140 people have allotments on the site.

Colin Sharp, chairman of the Lenthall Road Rose Hill Allotment Association, said: “There is space for a car park and it is going to take three or four cars. It means people won’t be parking on the green areas of the allotment. We are very very grateful. It came as a surprise.”

Art teacher Amanda Horwood leads the craft group at Lucas and Remy Place sheltered housing in Meadow Lane, Iffley, which received £700.

She said the group was initially supported by Oxford and Cherwell Valley College, but proved so successful that the group applied for this grant.

Ms Horwood said: “It is essential to enable this group to come together because in sheltered housing you tend to assume everybody knows each other. But it can be quite isolating.

“We have about eight who come regularly to do painting, tapestry, weaving and mixed media work. I hope to carry it on.”

Louisa Dean, spokeswoman for Oxford City Council said: “The Rose Hill Community First Funding has enabled local groups to deliver a range of activities for their community and has been an inspiring success.

“It has also been awarded to groups who had great ideas but needed that first piece of funding to get going.

“The Community First Funding has brought together the Rose Hill community to support each other and has been allocated by local people for local people.”

Groups from Rose Hill can still apply for cash from the Community First Fund. For more information contact Cheryl Snudden by emailing communities@ oxford.gov.uk or call 01865 252646.

WHO GOT WHAT

2012
Rose Hill & Donnington Advice Centre: New Community PC – £450
Rose Hill Wanderers: Day Trip to Bournemouth – £750
Rose Hill Community Association: Jubilee event – £750
Oxford Women Swahili Group: Family day trip to Southend – £750
TRAX: Outreach work in Rose Hill for young people, including teambuilding and activities – £581
Somalia Youth Community Group: Funding for football equipment – £620
Alice and Margaret House: Singing Group – £500
HEERA: Sewing Group – £750
Nepalese Community Oxford: Community & Sports Event – £715
Rose Hill Social Club: Family New Year Celebration – £445

2013
Arabic Speaking Ladies Group: Fitness activities – £750
The Food Committee: Community lunch club – £737
Junior Youth Club: Healthy tea at youth club session – £750
Lenthall Road Allotments Association: improve access and facilities – £750
Lucus & Remy Craft Group: craft activities – £700
Oxfordshire Play Association: Rose Hill Play Day – £750