Residents set to vote for which community groups in Trafford will benefit from £200,000 council windfall

By Sean-Paul Doran

Residents in Trafford are being asked to cast their votes today for which community groups across Sale and Altrincham deserve to receive a share of £200,000 in grants.

As part of the council’s Neighbourhood Voluntary Sector Grants Scheme, residents were asked to develop innovative projects that will tackle the most challenging issues in the borough.

Each of the council’s four neighbourhoods – North, South, Central, and West – have £50,000 to award and some of the winners were announced on Saturday after a vote from local people.

Two further events are being held tomorrow for residents in the North and West of the Borough and the council are urging residents to have their say.

Executive Councillor for Safe and Strong Communities, Jonathan Coupe, welcomed the news and hopes tomorrow’s events will see a large turnout.

He said: “The voluntary sector is an integral part of Trafford and I am delighted that the council has been able to offer these grants to groups whose work will make a real difference to local people.

“What is extra special about this process is that residents themselves have been able to have their say in where the money has been allocated.”

The projects will tackle drug and alcohol issues, worklessness and skills, health and wellbeing and improvements to the environment within local communities.

Successful applicants in the Sale area included: Sale Moor Community Partnership, Sale West and Ashton Partnership, Simply Cycling Trafford Wheelers, Trafford Housing Trust and Sport Trafford, Dance Discovery, Trafford Community Theatre, Trafford Hard of Hearing Group, Trafford Deaf Community Network, New Expressions Arts, Brink Productions and the Salvation Army.

The successful applicants in the Altrincham area were: Trafford Community Theatre, Broadheath Community Allotments, Trafford Deaf Community Network, Cyril Flint Volunteers, Our Altrincham, Stamford Park Toy Library, Altrincham Creative Theatre School, Altrincham Festival Committee, Local Creation, Trafford Housing Trust and Sport Trafford, G-Force, Community Building, Altrincham AFC, Simply Cycling Trafford Wheelers and Friends of Woodhey Park.

The event for North Trafford will take place today from 9.30am to 1pm in Gorse Hill Methodist Church, Chester Road, Stretford.

West Trafford’s event will also be held today from 9.30am to 1pm in Flixton House, Flixton Road, Flixton.

Residents will only be able to vote at these events if they are aged 16 or above and live in that area. Anyone wishing to vote must arrive at the venue for registration before 10.15am. Registration opens at 9.30am. Results will be announced on the day, and refreshments will be provided.

For further information visit www.trafford.gov.uk/voluntarysectorgrant or contact Adrian Bates on 0161 912 5558.