News

Gloucestershire charity National Star has been awarded £10,000 from the Severn Trent Community Fund.

The funding will support plans for a community-based project, where the charity will create an inclusive outdoor gym for those with complex needs and disabilities in the Cheltenham area.

Work to the gym that has been uniquely designed for people with disabilities is set to start in April, with aims to be complete and in use by the end of June.

Jade Gough, Community Fund Officer from Severn Trent said: “We’re thrilled to be able to support such a fantastic project that will massively improve the wellbeing for the community.

“We created our fund for local projects just like this, where we can help make a real difference to the communities and the people that live in them. Now more than ever, it is important that we’re able to do our bit in helping communities get back on their feet, and a project that promotes wellbeing and exercise, we believe will do just that. We’re really looking forward to the project to get going, and to see it making a difference in the future to everyone who will benefit from it.”

Severn Trent launched its Community Fund in January this year, and aims to donate £10 million over the next five years to community groups and projects across it’s whole region.

Across Gloucestershire, the company has awarded 11 projects with funding for community projects, that aim to improve the environment, and the people living in the community.

Gill Henry, Trust Fundraiser at National Star said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Severn Trent Community Fund for its fantastic support. The Coronavirus Pandemic has had a significant impact on the physical and mental wellbeing of our vulnerable young people who have complex physical and learning disabilities. The Outdoor Gym will give them the opportunity to improve their physical and mental wellbeing whilst exercising safely in the fresh air, where the risk of infection spread is significantly reduced.”

Severn Trent’s Community Fund was created for community groups and projects that aim to improve community wellbeing: 

• People: Projects that help people to lead a healthier life and gain new skills.

• Places: Projects that help to create better places to live in and use.

• Environment: Projects that will help look after our natural environment.

To find out more about the fund, and what projects have been awarded,  please visit stwater.co.uk/communityfund.