News
Local families benefit from Chiddingfold Community Fund
All Key Stage 2 children from St Mary’s Primary School, Chiddingfold will be able to enjoy residential trips this summer thanks to a grant from the Chiddingfold Community Fund (CCF). The local fund, which supports community needs within the village, has made a contribution to the school’s ‘Governors’ Bursary Fund’, which financially supports vulnerable families. This means that all the children at Key Stage 2 will now be able to take part in the exciting opportunities on offer.
Head teacher, Penny Crocker, explains, “We are tremendously grateful to the Chiddingfold Community Fund for this grant. Residential trips are an essential part of enhancing the learning that goes on within the classroom, bringing topics to life. As well as covering aspects of the science, physical education, PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) and geography curriculum, these residential trips also have a tremendous impact on the children’s social awareness and interaction skills. For some it is their first opportunity to stay away from home and to be able to do this with familiar adults and friends is a huge comfort. Throughout these trips the children enjoy a range of situations that will develop their independence and encourage them to seek solutions to tasks using collaborative and cooperative strategies. Our thanks again for their support.”
The village fund was established in partnership with the Community Foundation for Surrey, a charitable trust which aims to inspire more giving in Surrey. It is gradually building an endowment which will allow community needs to be met in perpetuity - as the interest from the fund accumulates it can be awarded in grants to support projects of benefit to the village. The Chiddingfold Fund has already had £60,000 in donations, enabling it to support extensive emergency work on the historic forge on the village green. The grade II listed building, one of the very few traditional forges in the country still being used for its original purpose, has had repairs to the timber roof structure and has been completely retiled.
A spokesperson from the Chiddingfold Community Fund grants panel says, “The purpose of the fund is to support our local community and the donation to the St Mary’s school trip is a terrific way to show what can be done when our village works together. The CCF is in its early stages and we hope this example encourages Chiddingfold people to donate to the fund for the future benefit of our community.”
To make a donation to the ‘Chiddingfold Community Fund’ or find out more about the work of the Community Foundation for Surrey go to www.communityfoundationsurrey.org.uk/chiddingfold
Ends
8 June 2010