Due to the popularity of last year’s bursary award scheme, Hillstreet once again invited local community groups, charities and schools to apply for one of four £500 bursaries on offer. Again we received a fantastic number of applications from local worthy causes, all hoping to be successful. The judging was extremely difficult with each and every application being considered and viewed in great detail. At last a final decision has been made, albeit difficult as each application was worthwhile. Hillstreet are pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 bursary award as follows.
Salvation Army Sunday School in Acklam.
Thorntree Primary School.
Middlesbrough Powerchair Football Club.
Cleveland Youth Club for the sight impaired.
Salvation Army Sunday School in Acklam.
The application was received from Lindsey Brown, Sunday School Leader who said ‘I run the Sunday School at The Salvation Army in Acklam, Middlesbrough and we are constantly looking for funds to be able to provide the children not only with weekly supplies for the activities we run every Sunday but also so that we can have special treats for the children and keep the cost to them as low as possible. The children come from the Middlesbrough area and benefit a great deal from the time we spend together as a group. New friendships are made and we have seen the children grow in their faith.’
Thorntree Primary School.
The application was received from Jo Nottingham, teaching assistant at the school who informed us that the staff at Thorntree Primary School volunteer to run a range of afterschool clubs such as gardening, ICT, Glee, Arts & Crafts, Choir, Card Making, Street Dance, School Council etc. Jo says ‘The children thoroughly enjoy taking part in these activities and their enthusiasm to develop them from something that was just a bit of fun into products and skills that they can share with others and be proud of is infectious. Unfortunately, there is no budget for these clubs to run. The staff provide what they can and the children try to raise money wherever possible by selling plants and cards, doing sponsored activities etc. However, this barely covers the running costs if at all.’
Cleveland Youth Club for the sight impaired.
This application was received from Mrs Lavinia Thomas who informed us that the objective of this charity is for ‘The relief of young persons up to the age of 18 who are visually impaired or blind, in particular but not exclusively through the provision of holidays, social welfare or recreational facilities with the object of improving their conditions of life.’ The application of the bursary was made to support sight impaired young people in engaging activities to improve their wellbeing and social welfare by purchasing equipment that can assist them to use information technology for the purpose of social, relaxation and learning purposes.
Middlesbrough Powerchair Football Club.
The application was received from Rosemary Swift the mother of Owen aged 14. Owen’s mum said ‘Owen has played powerchair football for the last two years for Percy Hedley Panthers, based in Newcastle where he used to go for training every week. Owen now plays for Middlesbrough as we have recently set up a new club at The Rainbow Leisure Centre in Coulby Newham. This has really changed Owen’s life and the other players for the better. Owen gets such a lot from being in the team and has made lots of good friends and has something good to look forward to each week.’
Investing in the community
