Knowle West groups successfully pitch for hundreds in funding
Main image: Local groups celebrating their grant awards at Novers Community Centre.
Fourteen local groups are celebrating receiving hundreds of pounds in grant funding – after pitching their ideas at a public event last night (29 January).
The grants evening at Novers Community Centre was organised by Filwood Fantastic – offering funding of up to £500 – in partnership with Knowle West Alliance – giving pots of £100.
For the £500 projects – ideas ranged from an International Women’s day creative event run by Eagle House Wednesday Club to a twice weekly roller disco at Inns Court Community and Family Centre, put forward by resident Craig Richards.
Grants for £100 projects included a badge maker for dyslexic organisation, Brislexic – started by local resident Claudia Collins as well as kit and equipment for The Park Knowle Football Club Ladies’ Team.
Rising High Baking Group, which meets at Inns Court Centre, pitched for three projects and was successful in all of them.
They will receive the £500 grant for community baking workshops as well as two pots of £100 for storage and a member’s trip.
Merv Trowbridge who presented the idea for the workshops said after the event: “I think it’s amazing. We’re already up and running but if we’re going to take on training courses for adults and children in groups we need to get the resources to run the groups…”
Heather Pickford spoke on behalf of Inns Court Residents’ group which helps to combat fly tipping and clean up the area to “improve the quality of life for residents on the estate”.
She said: “We want the funding to make a sign for the site using rubbish we have collected from the site: bottles, cans, paintpots…to show people what was on the site…”
Chair of Filwood Community Market Dave Wherrett wanted the £500 project fund to raise awareness of the monthly event – and increase traders and footfall.
He said: “…We’ve got to reach out to the community and let everybody know what’s happening…”
Funding from Filwood Fantastic will also enable the popular Hearts and Stars awards ceremony for community volunteers to take place again in the summer – after a gap of two years.
Smaller groups such as Silver Screen over 50s film Club and Knit and Natter which both help tackle social isolation also benefited from the Alliance Grants. Silver Screen for transport and a trip and the knitting group for equipment and publicity.
Charlie Watts from Filwood Fantastic said: “This is an opportunity to showcase the brilliant local groups we’ve got in Knowle West and give them some money so they can keep doing what they are doing…”
And Chair of the Alliance, Heather Williams said of the event: “It’s not just about the money it’s about showcasing the good things happening in the community…
“I hope you go away with a sense of pride about living in Filwood and Knowle.”
Full list of grant award winners:
| Up to £500 projects | |
| Inns Court Residents Group | Create a sign from waste collected |
| The Park Centre – Anne Neale | Tree decor for Pride 2020 |
| Eagle House Wednesday Club | International Women’s Day event |
| Craig Richards | Roller discos |
| Rising High | Baking workshops |
| Filwood Chase History Society | Local history heritage centre |
| Megan Royall and Lucy Harris | Craft workshops at KWMC: The Factory |
| Community in Partnership | Hearts and Stars event |
| Filwood Community Market | Marketing and advertising and equipment maintenance/repair to attract and support local creative traders |
| £100 projects | |
| Rising High | Storage for baking equipment |
| Rising High | Men’s health trip to water mill, Southhampton |
Brislexic | Advocate for dyslexia in Knowle West |
| Knit and Natter | Resources to encourage/allow new members to join |
| Silver Screen | Transport and trip |
| Eagle House Friday Women’s Group | Trip |
| Park Knowle FC Ladies Team | Equipment and kit |
