Groups and individuals funded in Wednesbury North Ward
Elected Members in Sandwell have access to four small funding streams for activities and events that help support the residents in their ward and town.
Events and projects across Sandwell are funded via many different budgets:
• CIL Funding – The Community Infrastructure Levy is a charge applied by the council on new building developments in the area. In Sandwell, 15% of these funds can be spent in the local community. Community Infrastructure Levy Grants of up to £5,000 are available to community groups to enhance their work.
Find out more about Community Infrastructure Levy funding.
All applications for grants funded by Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) require a public consultation. View and comment on the current consultations.
• Ward Member Budgets – Each ward member (local elected councillor) has their own budget which they allocate on projects or events within their ward to help support their ward priorities.
Each ward member has an annual budget of £2,000.
For more information, find your local councillor and contact them directly.
• Neighbourhoods Support Budget – The Neighbourhoods Support Budget is available to Elected Members within the town to solve issues they identify which are affecting our residents. Where an issue cannot be solved with the other available funds, the Neighbourhoods Support Budget ensures that we are pro-active in supporting our residents. Each Town has an annual budget of £10,000.
• Events - Across each Town there is a small Events budget which is allocated by Elected Members to fund events that bring communities together. Each town has an annual budget of £5,000.
Find more information about running an event in Sandwell.
Wednesbury Baptist Church Kitchen Improvements
The group were awarded CIL funding of £2,500.00.
Wednesbury Baptist Church in Vicar Street in Wednesbury offers a range of community activities from coffee mornings, stay and play sessions, lunch clubs, friendship groups and worship (as well as many other activities).
Wednesbury Baptist Church applied for CIL funding to improve their kitchen to allow them to hold more community activities and develop opportunities for local people in Wednesbury.
Wednesbury Baptist Church plan to offer more cooking-based activities including the possibility of healthy eating sessions and classes in the future. This potentially includes opening on Christmas day to supply a Christmas dinner for local people who live alone.
The Friends of Brunswick Park - Brunswick Community Day
The group were awarded CIL funding of £1,878.10.
The Friends of Brunswick Park is a long established Organisation and are now registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). Their mission is to promote the use and development of Brunswick Park in Wednesbury.
The Friends of Brunswick Park applied for CIL funding to support the activities that are run in the Brunswick Park.
The CIL funding has helped fund sports equipment e.g. netball, rounders, balls etc to encourage more users into the park by providing activities.
The CIL funding was used to purchase new sports equipment and support Community Events the group undertake and promote the tree trail to users.
Wednesbury Sons of Rest - Banquet Chairs
The group were awarded CIL funding of £1,153.60.
Wednesbury Sons of Rest was established in 1938. The Hall is used for various groups; Carers (Mental Health) Support Group, A Tenants Association, Sons of Rest Group and many more.
The Sons of Rest Group have received CIL funding to purchase 40 banquet style chairs. These will improve the facilities at the Hall.
The improved facilities will allow the hall to be used by new groups and local residents, as well as helping to increase its membership.
Friends of Goldicroft Park - Village Green
The group were awarded CIL funding of £914.57.
The Friends of Goldicroft Park are a recently established group, in response to the proposed development on Goldicroft Park. Local residents have come together to encourage additional use of the green space.
They have received CIL funding to help purchase tools, sports equipment, a generator and gazebo to be able to organise sports and community events and activities.
The new facilities will encourage local residents to utilise this green space further and demonstrate the importance of keeping Goldicroft Park as a green space for the community to enjoy.
Breakthru - Beyond Blue Counselling Service
The group were awarded CIL funding of £1,247.
Breakthru was established in 2016 and is an organisation that works with communities and individuals in the Sandwell area. They aim to bring people together, encouraging wellbeing both mentally and physically and assisting social inclusion. This is done through various groups and sessions.
The Organisation currently provides approximately 600 counselling sessions per year, via their Beyond Blue Counselling service, at their current office, but all of these are on a 1 to 1 basis.
The group have received funding for furniture; a sofa, chair and table, to allow them to offer counselling at Wednesbury Library. This will allow them to increase their counselling services to include couples and families, meaning a significant increase in the numbers of sessions they can offer.
Central (& Woods) Methodist Church - Everyone welcome drop in
The group were awarded CIL funding of £2,973.88.
The Central (& Woods) church has been established since the 1700’s and the community centres being operational for about 25 years. They currently offer a wide range of religious, sporting, youth and social activities for the local community.
The Central (& Woods) church want to utilise their 2 halls, one at Spring Head and one at Woods, to increase its support for the local community and to extend their services by offering ‘Drop-in’ sessions, for people who want some friendly social interaction and activity.
The group has received CIL funding to purchase water boilers, toaster, coffee machine, fridge, microwave and grill. These facilities will enable the group to set-up the new ‘Drop-in’ sessions offering hot drinks and light refreshments at their 2 centres.
St Mary's on the Hill - Community Project
The group were awarded CIL funding of £3,828.94.
St Mary’s Church on the Hill is a Community Church group with Church Hall that provides a space for local community groups to meet and hold a variety of sessions for all ages.
The organisation identified that their chairs and tables were no longer fit for purpose. They had been donated many years ago, and many were damaged and unsafe to use. Additionally, the chairs and tables were too bulky to move around, making it difficult to re-arrange the furniture to make the room suitable for different groups.
The organisation has been successful in receiving CIL funding for 8 rectangular tables, 2 circular tables, a large table trolley and 40 stackable chairs.
This has enabled them to provide their existing groups with furniture to suit their needs. This will encourage more groups to use the community hall either for regular or one-off events, allowing their services and activities to reach more residents.
Wodensborough ABC - Boxing Ring
The group were awarded CIL funding of £1,895.00.
Wodensborough ABC was founded in 2010 and supports young people in Friar Park with discipline and development through Boxing. There have been many former members who have continued with their boxing careers and have won numerous midlands and national titles.
The Club previously only had one boxing ring which was not enough provision for their members, which meant that they could not make the most of each session they held.
The organisation has been successful in receiving CIL funding for a new boxing ring for their centre.
This has enabled them to provide more opportunities for their young people to practise and spar in the safe environment of a boxing ring, improving their skills and encouraging them to stay active.