Witney News - Grants extended to help communities commemorate First World War

Grants extended to help communities commemorate First World War

A grant scheme that supports the development of arts and heritage opportunities in West Oxfordshire is being widened this year to help communities commemorate the First World War.

2014 marks 100 years since the start of the First World War and West Oxfordshire District Council is encouraging local communities to apply for grants up to £500 to help with commemorative projects.

Community groups and organisations are being invited to contact the District Council with their ideas, which may include projects such as tree planting, floral displays, plaques or benches.
Funding is being made available from the Council’s Community Activities Grants scheme. Groups and organisations can also bid for up to £500 to help with projects to develop arts or heritage opportunities, unrelated to the First World War, that will benefit local residents and visitors to West Oxfordshire.

Cllr Richard Langridge, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “We are making a special exception this year to offer financial support to local communities who want to do something to mark this significant milestone in world history.
“The Council is proud to support local communities in this way and we look forward to receiving ideas and seeing the projects come to fruition.”

Events and commemorative projects are taking place across the country to mark the centenary. Locally, the Witney Branch of the Royal British Legion is holding coffee mornings at the High Street Methodist Church, Witney, and funds will go to the Poppy Appeal 2014. The first will take place on Saturday 22 March from 9.30am-12.30pm.
The Branch’s Parade Marshall and Poppy Appeal organiser Mark Garwood said: “I am pleased to hear of the District Council’s grants scheme and hope that local communities will take up this offer. As a nation we should never forget what our brave servicemen and women have done in the past and are doing today, with some paying the ultimate sacrifice, to ensure that we can live peacefully and safely.”

The deadline for grant applications is Wednesday 23 April.

Application forms can be downloaded via www.westoxon.gov.uk/communities. Further information is also available by calling 01993 861080.