Chatteris Town Council to give nearly £3,000 in grants to All Seasons Children's Play and Summer Reading Challenge

Grants are being made to organisations that play a key role within the community.

During Tuesday evening’s Chatteris Town Council meeting, financial officer Angela Papworth discussed two grant applications that were submitted.

One application for a council grant was from All Seasons Children's Play, who Mrs Papworth said “does so much for the community”.

The organisation runs a mums and toddlers play group, mental health sessions, half-term workshops and provides lunches for deprived families.

Mayor Linda Ashley said: “Some mums who attend this group don't even leave the house other than this. This is the only time they leave the house because they found it so welcoming.

“They go to Sam and they get that family feeling – like a little community. It is such a lovely little group.

“If there is anything they want to talk about, she will talk to them about it. If they have any problems, new mums who are struggling, some are struggling financially. They also get a lunch provided.

“We are lucky we have this centre.

Mrs Papworth said 40-50 families attend three times a week.

The organisation has previously received a National Lottery grant of £20,000 over a two-year period, but is now asking the council for a donation as its funding has reached an end and it is going through the reapplication process.

The process takes around 12-14 weeks, and seven of them will be school holidays. Therefore, the group said they are ideally looking for support for the six-week crossover.

They are committed to working the sessions at no cost, but cannot afford to cover the rent, food, and the sessions.

The council agreed to pay the full £1,230 that it will cost to run the sessions over the six-week period – £810 for the rent for the King Edwards Centre, £360 for food and £60 for sensory equipment.

The second grant the council agreed on was for £500 towards the Chatteris Summer Reading Challenge.

Mrs Papworth said the council always put a grant towards this as it's “really good and gets the community together in the summer holidays”.

The organisation asked for a grant of £500, which includes craft activities, the arts, theatre workshops, school visits, magic shows and science lab workshops as well as more that is put on for the children.

Mrs Papworth recommended giving the asking amount, which all the councillors agreed on.