New children’s play equipment in a park, a colourful mural at a hostel and a refurbished foodbank are just some of the improvements made possible by a cash boost to community projects across Bournemouth and Poole.
Some 28 projects, spanning 16 wards, have been awarded £316,454 via the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Neighbourhood Portion Fund
The fifth round of funding, generated from new developments, was awarded by BCP Council to projects that will improve local community facilities and neighbourhoods.
To date, £1,550,031 has been allocated to 123 community projects through the CIL fund.
Residents, businesses, and community groups were invited to submit ideas for local projects which will improve, benefit and shape the development of their community.
Grants of varying amounts have been distributed to a broad range of project bids.
Facilities at Knyveton Gardens have been enhanced with a grant of £50,000 to improve children’s play equipment, general accessibility and vegetation management alongside upgrades to signage, notice boards and toilet provision.
An extra climbing frame has been installed at St George’s Play Area in Oakdale with an £18,750 cash injection while a large-scale mural now adorns the outside of St Paul’s Hostel in central Bournemouth, thanks to a grant of £9,972.
The team at Poole Foodbank have used a £9,700 grant to refurbish an empty retail unit in Poole’s Dolphin Centre to enhance operations.
Gill Payne, Manager at Poole Foodbank said: ‘We are so grateful for the financial support that we have received from CIL.
“This has enabled us to transform an empty unit in central Poole into a working environment for our fantastic volunteers.
“This food store receives, sorts and stores donated food and serves as the pivotal point for distributing packages to our seven satellite venues that serve the people across the Poole area who struggle with food poverty.”
Cllr Millie Earl, Deputy Leader, and Portfolio Holder for Connected Communities, BCP Council, pictured, said: “I am delighted that so many different worthwhile and community led causes and projects have been given a boost from the CIL grants, big or small.
“It’s fantastic that money raised from development can be put to such good use, from refurbishing disabled toilets at Merley Community Centre to installing environmental signage at Seaview to providing hanging flower baskets in Winton or making it possible to open a community café in the newly refurbished Alexandra Park pavilion.”
“We can’t wait to see the results of all the hard work put in by our residents across Bournemouth and Poole.”
The dates and details of how to apply for Round 6 of the CIL grants will be announced in due course.