Community groups pitch for a share of £150,000 Sainsbury's funding pot (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Community groups pitch for a share of £150,000 Sainsbury's funding pot

1:19pm Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News By Lizzie Anderson

BUILDING a new premises for an out of school fun club and refurbishing a Scout hall are among the community projects vying for a share of a £150,000 fundraising pot.

Developers Terrace Hill offered the money as a goodwill gesture to the community when it secured permission to build a Sainsbury’s store on the outskirts of Sedgefield.

The fund, which will be administered by Sedgefield Town Council, is expected to be handed over when the store opens in May and, last night (Monday, March 4), community groups were given an opportunity to pitch for a share of the money.

Sedgefield 1st Scout Group was first to address the audience of councillors and residents who gathered at Sedgefield Parish Hall to hear the presentations.

The group asked for £35,000 to refurbish the Scout Hall on West End, including replacing the toilet and kitchen facilities.

Popular running club Sedgefield Harriers, meanwhile, requested £80,000 to build a new floodlit running track at Sedgefield Community College.

Chris Lines, speaking on behalf of the harriers, said the track would bring enormous benefits to the town.

“If all we achieve is getting a good running track for 20 years then that is a generation of people who will benefit and will go on to enjoy a culture of sport and health in Sedgefield,” he said. “That is outstanding value for money whichever way you look at it.”

Other groups to pitch included: Sedgefield Cricket Club, which asked for £35,000 to upgrade its electricity supply and extend the club house kitchen, Sedgefield Squash Club, which asked for £45,000 to build an additional squash court, Sedgefield Out of School Fun Club, which requested £73,200 for a new building, Sedgefield Bowling Club, which asked for £30,000 to build a new bowling green and Sedgefield Youth Development, which is seeking £35,000 to create a drop-in centre on Front Street.

Sedgefield Town Council has set aside £130,000 for large grant applications and will decide which projects to award money to at a meeting on Monday, March 11.

Of the remaining money, £10,000 will be used to develop a new neighbourhood plan and £10,000 will be given to Sedgefield Together Community Partnership to create a Small Grants Pot for projects seeking up to £2,000.

Applications forms for the Small Grants Pot are available at the council offices on Front Street and should be returned by Friday, September 6.