WOKINGHAM United Charities (WUC) is one of the town’s oldest charitable groups.
The organisation awards grants throughout the year to improve the wellbeing and lives of individuals and families experiencing financial hardship in the borough.
Its Thrive grant is awarded for project-based initiatives that support these aims.
Registered charities, schools, and local community groups can all benefit from Thrive, and this year Wokingham United Charities is pleased to have been able to award the grant to a range of projects serving people of different ages, and with different needs:
Thanks to Thrive, Building for the Future is able to install a floor projector, Wade Day Centre can proceed with its Wellbeing Project,
Kaleidoscopic UK has been able to hold a Wellbeing Weekend, and Freely Fruity is able to complete two community gardens.
Freely Fruity’s mission is to plant more fruit for people to enjoy in local communities for free, and to reduce the borough’s carbon footprint.
Thrive enables the charity to construct two community gardens in Wokingham Borough, and to teach residents how to grow there sustainably and to provide free food for disadvantaged families.
Freely Fruity, founded in 2020, has already completed nine gardens across Berkshire, and says that the two new sites will each engage around 50 people and provide food for up to 100 families.
The charity will also provide support and resources over the longer term to help the gardens thrive.
Matt Knight, Freely Fruity co-founder, said: “In two weeks time we will begin the first of two builds – a community garden at the Eco Skills Learning Centre at Pudding Lane Nursery in Arborfield.
“Schools and groups visiting the centre will be able to use and enjoy it.”
The second community garden will be planted in Woosehill, in partnership with Wokingham In Need.
“The Thrive grant will help us buy sheds for storage, timber for raised beds, top soil, and tools, seeds, and plants,” said Matt.
Once both gardens are finished, as with all its community projects, Freely Fruity will revisit volunteers over time, and will continue to provide them with expertise and resources, to help them successfully maintain the gardens.
“Groups may contact us because they need more top soil, or trees, for example,” said Matt, “so we continue to provide them with what they need, and we offer them training workshops where possible.
“We’re really honoured to work with Wokingham United Charities.
“Their support isn’t only financial – it’s much wider than that – they’re connecting us with other charitable groups, helping us share our message better, and giving us opportunities to engage with other borough charities.
“For us, this is so valuable.”
For information, visit: wokinghamunitedcharities.org.uk and freelyfruity.org
