10 organisations across Essex and Hertfordshire are celebrating after being awarded a share of almost £30,000 from the Stansted Airport Community Fund (SACF).
The SACF offers grants of up to £5,000 to projects aimed at improving community life, the environment and conservation within a 10-mile radius of the airport.
The independent committee representing local authorities and airport stakeholders meets quarterly to discuss applicants and decide how the funds will be distributed.
Chair of the Community Fund, Daniel Burford, said: “We are very fortunate to have so many wonderful community groups and voluntary organisations around the airport. The work they do really makes a difference to the lives of the local people, which is why I am delighted that we are able to offer these grants to support their activities. Applicants who wish to apply for the next round of funding, including our annual flagship £50,000 grant, should do so by September 30. So, if you have a community-led project you wish us to support, please apply on our website."
Among the organisations receiving grants this quarter are:
- The Arts Centre Dunmow - £1,825 towards sky tiles and solar panels.
- Bishop's Stortford Musical Theatre Company - £2,500 towards mobile stage equipment.
- Across, Bishop’s Stortford - £1,310 to help with assisted travel for those with ill health or disabilities.
- Sawbridgeworth Cricket Club - £3,000 towards a wicket mower.
- Thaxted Festival Foundation - £1,300 towards catering equipment for the annual festival.
- Daisy May's Farm, Bishop’s Stortford - £5,000 towards new disabled toilet facilities.
- Thaxted Dragons Karate - £3,341 towards training equipment.
- Accuro (Care Services), Bishop’s Stortford - £5,000 towards accessible minibus.
- Hunsdon Scout Group - £1,600 towards tents.
- Dig It Community Allotment, Saffron Walden - £2,400 towards decking.
Freya Leslie, Bishop's Stortford Musical Theatre Company, said: “The grant has enabled us to buy our own mobile stage equipment, which will allow us to perform in a wider range of locations, making our productions more accessible. Our passion as a local theatre group is to perform in our community, and Stansted Airport Community Fund has enabled us to do this even more in the future.”A successful planning application for the airport to handle up to 43 million passengers per year led to the SACF being relaunched in January 2023 to provide further support to the local community.
The airport will contribute £1.5 million over the next decade to the fund which will be topped up with fines levied against airlines for violating noise regulations. A one-off flagship award of up to £50,000 is also presented by the fund each year.