Agenda item

·         Funding Updates

Questions from members of the public can be submitted in advance of the meeting to Amersham@Buckinghamshire.gov.uk

The Community Board Manager provided an update on Community Board activities from the last year.

• In terms of engagement 150 people had signed up to the quarterly newsletter. The Community Board Facebook page had 600 followers and 135 followers on Instagram. The Board’s Facebook posts had reached roughly 12,000 people since January 2022.
• There was a Community Board event at Chiltern Leisure Centre held on 12^th February with over 100 attendees. The event also featured the Proud of Bucks awards which had proved successful.
• The 2021/22 funding summary highlighted £170,000 had been allocated with some funds from the previous financial year allocated but not spent.
• Health and wellbeing projects accounted for 42% of the budget, Transport 18%, Environmental 12%, Economic regeneration 5% and a small amount for general spending. A large number of these projects were ongoing.

The Vice-Chairman of the Community Board gave an update on the projects the Board had supported and delivered the previous financial year, the full list is appended to the minutes.

• Projects highlighted included Amersham Youth Club renovation, Amersham Memorial Gardens and Chiltern open air walks for autistic people.
• In addition, no stop across zig zags were installed at Chesham Bois school, a vegetable garden was provided to Little Chalfont Primacy School and a Dementia Café was set up which was well attended.
• In Coleshill picnic benches and notice boards were installed and there would be a biodiversity blitz on 11^th June to allow young people to explore natural spaces with talks from a wildlife expert.
• It was noted it had been a very busy and successful year for the Board in delivering these projects. It was hoped these projects would be supported and built on in the coming year.

The Chairman advised 35 projects had been delivered by the Board which had exceeded expectations. The aim for the coming year was to deliver 45 projects. An example of small funding making a big difference was the £200 allocated to signing for the Amersham Martyr’s play which enable to deaf community to watch the play which would be livestreamed on Youtube.

Alan Polding from Chiltern Food Bank provided an update the presentation slides are appended to the minutes.

• The food bank was currently operating from St John’s Methodist Church and the Church sub-committee was assessing the option for the food bank to remain there permanently. The Church would explore all redevelopment options with the food bank putting forward the case for a community hub.
• The community hub could house the food bank and provide a venue for various community activities including the existing users of the church. Community Board Members were requested to support this proposal from the Chiltern Food Bank.
• There would be an indication by the end of May if the proposal was likely to be adopted. If successful the project would commence at the end of 2022.

Helen Strudwick from Scannappeal which was based at Amersham hospital appealed to the Board for support for the charity.

• Scannappeal fundraised for state of the art medical equipment for Stoke Mandeville, Wycombe and Amersham Hospitals. It was noted the NHS budget would not cover this specialist equipment. The charity worked closely with the Buckinghamshire NHS Trust.
• Work was underway with the community nursing team to provide hand held devices for patients with chronic illnesses such as asthma, cancer and heart failure to enable them to monitor oxygen levels at home without having to attend the hospital.
• Scannappeal volunteers were based at Amersham hospital bookshops, with volunteers promoting awareness of the charity and assisting with events and general administration.

Paige hall from the Facebook page Acts of Kindness advised the Board on their work for the local community.

• The Facebook page was set up at the start of the Covid19 pandemic and currently had 11,000 followers.
• The main aim of the page was to provide Covid19  financial support, provide food parcels for struggling families, refer residents to citizen advice bureau and to provide any items or services those in need required.
• Recently the community Easter egg project provided 450 chocolate eggs to Stoke Mandeville Children’s ward and Women’s Aid. 
• There would be a summer box activity project to provide toys and crafts for children to play with over the summer holidays. 
• Charity status would be applied for once trustees had been appointed.
• There was a request for Members to sign up to the Facebook page.

·         Acts of Kindness won an award at the recent Proud of Bucks awards ceremony.