THE FIRST grants have been made from a charity celebrating its 50th anniversary in Wokingham.
The Lions Club is marking its golden anniversary by awarding £500 to charities and good causes across the borough, a scheme it calls 50 Golden Awards. The funds are to help them set up or expand their activities, or purchase items to enhance their work.
They include a grant to self-advocacy group CLASP to help with the costs for an arts and crafts exhibition.
Crochet group The Barkham Hookers are planning something special for the Poppy Appeal in November, which will commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. This display will be prominent in Wokingham and there will be decorated post boxes, which have been very popular in recent years.
Wokingham Cricket Club are running an initiative to get girls from Year 4 upwards involved in the sport via taster sessions. The funding will provide a part-time coach for the season.
Building for the Future, a charity supporting disabled children and young people, will launch new workshops for young adults.
Igniting Writing, based at Wokingham Library on Saturdays is for children aged 11-18. The grant will be used to organise regular speakers to the sessions.
Hannah Tomsett is a successful para-athlete, who competes in watersking and wakeboarding. In 2023 she won two national titles including wakeboard adaptive trick champion, setting a new British record. Hannah also won a World Silver Medal in Slalom in California, a team Bronze Medal in the World Championships, a Bronze Medal at the British Nationals in slalom and fifth place in a non-disabled slalom competition. The grant will help fund a new ski seat better fitted to her body and be transferable from her snow ski to her water skis.
Wokingham and District Association for the Elderly (WADE) promotes the welfare of the elderly within Wokingham Borough, and will buy good quality art and craft supplies to unleash creativity.
Girlguiding Wokingham currently has 27 units for girls aged four to 18, with around 600 members. The award will help fund a new unit with purchasing materials used each week.
Wokingham Pride’s grant will assist with the cost of a sound engineer, materials to make Pride flags and basic first aid kits for their First Aiders to use at the event on Saturday, July 13.
Wokingham Lions President, Lyn Baily, said: “We are delighted to have been able to start giving these awards to well-deserving causes in Wokingham and the surrounding area.
“We have met with groups and individuals we otherwise may not have been aware of, as well as those we knew already, who informed us that they needed assistance with upcoming projects.”
Wokingham Lions Golden Awards will continue to be made throughout 2024.
To apply for a grant, visit: https://tinyurl.com/wokinghamlions50
