The village of Kingsbury Episcopi has received a large Lottery grant for an ambitious project to build a new community centre and South Somerset District Council is also supporting the project with a grant of £40,000.
A massive £185,000 has already been raised within the community and £773,128 has now been awarded by the Big Lottery Reaching Communities Buildings Fund.
The project will provide a village hall and a permanent home for Kingsbury’s busy community shop – now run in a shipping container – plus a café and sports changing facilities.
David Wakely, Chairman of Kingsbury Episcopi Parish Council, said: “In consultation across the parish, the idea of a single facility was born – a new community centre and shop. After much effort and support from the community, fund-raising efforts and being under-pinned by the funding and encouragement of the Parish Council, it has culminated with a lottery grant to enable the community to realise a dream”.
Cllr Derek Yeomans, Ward Member for Kingsbury Episcopi, added: “People in the village have been fully committed and determined and have worked for over three years to successfully achieve this large Lottery grant which will ensure that this vital community project is completed”.
SSDC’s Area North Committee agreed the grant of £40,000 from the Council’s Community Grants programme, earlier this year. Cllr Shane Pledger, who chairs the Area North Committee, said: “This project entirely fits with the aims and aspirations of SSDC’s grants scheme – to help local communities gain greater self-sufficiency and resilience. We congratulate Kingsbury on their success in meeting The Big Lottery’s rigorous requirements which has taken many months of research, preparation and planning.”
Images: Artist’s impression of the new Community Centre; the community’s shop currently housed in a shipping container.
More information on SSDC’s Community Grants at: http://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/communities/funding-and-support-for-your-community/ssdc-community-grants/
More information on The Big Lottery: Reaching Communities Buildings Fund at: https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_reaching_communities