Thursday, October 27, 2022
www.telfordjournal.co.uk
NEWS New artwork on The Wrekin Page 3
FEATURE Delights right on our doorstep Page 8
SPORT A mountain for Tigers to climb Back Page
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WARM SPACES SUPPORT FUND
Council officials have announced new grant funding to support community groups in the borough who offer warm social spaces for struggling residents. Telford & Wrekin Council has announced the ‘Cost of Living Community Grants’ scheme is open to applications from voluntary and community groups, town councils and schools. Groups can apply for grants of up to £5,000 to keep facilities open throughout the winter months and help to provide warm spaces where people can visit, get a meal and take part in activities. It comes in addition to other support measures, approved at a recent cabinet meeting of Telford & Wrekin Council, which include a further £90,000 funding to support food banks and £128,000 for the council’s emergency welfare fund. Councillor Paul Watling, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, said: “With rising living costs, including fuel bills, many households in will be facing financial challenges and difficult decisions this winter and we’re on their side. “As a council, we can’t influence the cost of energy, but by working with partners, we can help make
Report by Megan Howe
sure that there are warm spaces open to all, around our borough. These grants aim to support a local network of community hubs that offer a warm and welcoming space that people can visit, have a meal and take part in social activities too. “We’re inviting local organisations, including community and voluntary groups, schools, and town and parish councils, to apply for grants of up to £5,000 to help keep facilities open, or extend opening hours, over the winter. “So that we can get the grants out to organisations as soon as possible, in time for them to make a difference, the closing date for applications is 6 November. If you are involved in a community group and would like to find out more, please check out www.telford.gov.uk/col communitygrant. “Once the grants have been approved, we’ll be letting people know where these locations are and when they are open, so look out for more information soon.” More information about cost of living advice can be found online at www.telford.gov. uk/costofliving
Digging life as gardener
‘No trick or treat’ signs Young police cadets have been out and about in their local community delivering ‘no trick or treat’ posters to residents. The West Mercia cadets visited homes in Brookside, Telford, delivering the posters to elderly residents. While many children and families will be looking forward to trick or treating on October 31, the occasion can cause concern for some elderly residents or people who live on their own. The cadets will be out again in other areas of Telford across the weekend. To download a poster visit west mercia.police.uk
Award given to ex-mayor
Brian Gilbride has joined The Friends of Telford Town Park What better pastime for a retired head gardener than to do some more gardening? Brian Gilbride, who began working in 1973 as an assistant gardener, retired as head gardener for Telford Town Park in 2020. But after a year
off, he has joined the park’s voluntary group to help with its upkeep. The 68-year-old said: “ “The Friends of Telford Town Park asked me to join them when I retired. I’m so pleased to join them, they are a great group.”
A former mayor has won the Young Councillor of the Year award. Councillor Stefan Heighway, who was mayor of Great Dawley in Telford between 2020 and 2022, was first elected to the town council in 2015 aged just 26. He was given the award by the National Association of Local Councils in an online ceremony. Great Dawley Town Council has praised the former mayor for his efforts during the pandemic, where he helped deliver breakfast parcels for families and free school meals and hot meals. He said: “I would like to thank everyone who has helped me throughout the years.”
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