The Charity has re-opened the grant application process. Four new trustees were appointed earlier in the year, bringing our total number of trustees to seven. Our focus is on improving living conditions and life chances for those in need in Market Harborough, Great Bowden and Little Bowden.
We are committed to assisting local groups and individuals suffering hardship, distress or ill-health and to support welfare, leisure and education facilities in our area.
HAB was set up in 2011 to counter bullying. Its area of work has since expanded to include mental health issues, suicide prevention, domestic abuse and bereavement support. It is run by volunteers and commissions independent counselling services to meet the needs of those it supports.
Trustees noted how it has grown over the years to meet wider demands and that it undertakes fundraising to support its work. They were pleased to award a grant of £3,000 to enable the Charity to continue its work in the local area (October 2023).
Feedback from HAB is that the grant has enabled it to continue its counselling work. It has also enabled some very vulnerable people to receive urgently needed counselling that they were unable to pay for. These included people with addictions affecting their mental health, bereavement support for an elderly person, and mental health support for young people.
In response to an application from a kinship carer of children at Ridgeway Primary School, Trustees agreed to support equipping a classroom for children with special educational needs. Trustees noted that families were collecting items to equip the space and agreed a grant of £1,000 (September 2023).
Previously the children had been taught in the school library, but the new classroom provides a dedicated space for learning and life skills sessions.
Market Harborough Sea Cadet Corps lost the use of their previous premises in September 2023. Whilst they found a new base in the town, they needed to purchase two containers to store equipment. The group provides opportunities for young people aged between 9 – 17 years in its Cadet training programme and the Duke of Edinburgh awards.
Trustees were pleased to grant £5,000 towards purchase of the storage containers, to help the group continue and extend its work with young people in the area (August 2023).
A grant of £2,193 was made to Shopmobility towards the purchase of 2 lightweight wheelchairs and a new mobility scooter. Trustees recognise the value of assisting those with limited mobility to maintain their independence and participate in activities.
Lightweight wheelchairs are easier for families and carers to put into car boots, when taking people out and about. Shopmobility is finding the new wheelchairs to be very popular (August 2023).
Trustees continued to support Arts Fresco, the not-for-profit free street theatre event that attracts large crowds to the town. They awarded a grant of £5,000 towards the event which was held in September 2023 (August 2023).
Trustees agreed a grant of £2,000 towards a group scout camp at Rhyd Covert to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the 3rd Market Harborough Scouts. Approximately 120 children aged between 6 – 13 attended from the Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs and Scout groups. They enjoyed outdoor activities and a visit to the West Midlands Safari Park (June 2023).
Trustees awarded a grant of £500 to a student undertaking a sponsored bike ride to help fund his participation in a charitable expedition to support a local community abroad. They noted that the expedition would offer him a range of personal development opportunities. They were impressed by his fundraising and sponsorship activities, which have since resulted in him achieving his financial goal ahead of schedule (May 2023).
In recognition of the impacts of Covid on children’s mental health, Trustees supported the initiative by Ridgeway Primary Academy and Great Bowden Academy to create a sensory garden at each school. The gardens will offer a calm space for pupils and provide an outdoor learning space. Trustees were pleased to see the fund raising already underway and awarded a grant of £5,000, to be split between the two schools (Spring 2023).
The Sensory Garden at Ridgeway Primary Academy was completed in June 2023, and has been in near-daily use by the pupils and staff. It is a versatile space for the children to enjoy, play, draw, collect materials for lessons, listen to stories, and help with the care of the plants. The school was awarded the title of ‘Best Ornamental School Garden’ by East Midlands in Bloom in 2023.
Market Harborough Swimming Club was awarded a grant of £1,000 to subsidise training courses for volunteers. It has been used to subsidise swim teacher and coaching qualifications which support the work of the club and benefit its members (April 2023).
Trustees awarded a grant of £6,000 to Harborough District Scouts towards the cost of six scouts in its area of benefit attending the World Scout Jamboree in South Korea. It will enable the scouts to meet others from around the world and to develop skills for life. The group had already undertaken fundraising at community events and individuals were fundraising on their own initiative to contribute to the cost of attending the event (March 2023).
Trustees supported a proposal from Great Bowden Academy PTA to raise funds for sports equipment, to include basketball posts and balls, hockey sticks, netballs and cricket equipment. The equipment will support participation in sports and enhance extra-curricular sports clubs and physical education lessons.
The fact that the PTA was raising funds from other sources and that the equipment would improve extra-curricular sports was taken into account in awarding a grant of £500 (February 2023).
Trustees supported an initiative by Welland Park Academy to offer suicide prevention training by SafeTALK to students. They awarded a grant of £750 to fund the training, which was taken up by 29 students volunteers. The training offered a structured approach to help the volunteers offer immediate support to their peers if they need someone to talk to, and to move forward to access more specialised support (February 2023).
Trustees agreed a grant of £3,000 for Arts Fresco, the popular free street theatre event that celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022. The event is the largest of its type in the East Midlands and is enjoyed by residents, as well as attracting visitors to the town which helps to boost the local economy (October 2022).
Trustees awarded a grant of £3,200 towards the cost of the 1st Bowden Scout Group’s visit to the International Scout Centre in Switzerland.
They noted that this had been delayed due to covid and lockdown restrictions and recognised the benefits to the participants, particularly following the restrictions of the past two years. Forty-four youth members had the opportunity to meet scouts from all around the world, learning new life skills and exploring the possibilities that Scouting provides (October 2022).
Trustees agreed a grant of £900 towards the annual Great Bowden Recital Trust Junior X-Factor competition. It aims to nurture musical talent by providing opportunities for young singers, instrumentalists, groups and composers to perform in front of a panel of expert judges and receive constructive feedback to help them progress. The Trust received 35 entries in the 2023 competition and 17 talented young people performed in the Finals concert.
Trustees liked the fact that the competition was free to enter for young people, in line with the Trust’s view that an individual’s financial circumstances should never be a barrier for progressing and developing their skills (September 2022).
Trustees agreed a grant of £25,000 for improved lighting at the Market Harborough Rugby Union Football Club ground. An upgrade to the electricity supply was required to improve the lighting, which will allow for better use of the pitches for games and training.Trustees noted the numbers of children taking part in the sport as well as the adult membership of the club and were supportive of the club’s desire to make better use of its existing pitches.
The works were completed in November 2022. They include the installation of more energy efficient lighting alongside the new power supply that will support the growth in the club (July 2022).
Trustees approved a grant for a table and chairs for a family with multiple needs. The family were living in open plan housing with a small living area and nowhere to sit and eat meals together.
The new table has given the family a space to eat together in comfort and a space for the children to do homework and craft activities (July 2022).
Home Start South Leicestershire’s Family Post-Natal Illness project helps families affected by post-natal illness who have a child under 5 years – aiding recovery, reducing isolation and improving parent–child relationships.
Trustees acknowledged the value of this work and awarded a grant of £5,000 towards the cost of delivering the project, in proportion to the number of families living in Market Harborough, Great Bowden and Little Bowden who will benefit from the service (May 2022)
A grant of £18,000 was awarded to the Harborough Christian Counselling Service to improve access to its Bower House premises. Trustees noted that the service was available to all and that counselling sessions can cover anxiety, stress and depression, grief, bereavement and isolation.
The improvement works will provide a new ramped access to replace steps into the building and disabled toilet facilities within the building (May 2022).