News

Severn Trent’s Community Fund awarded £10,000 to KIDS Orchards Centre in Dudley, so it can transform its garden into a space that’s fun, safe, accessible and an educational environment for disabled children.

The project, that has now been completed, was awarded funding in September this year, and now means the children have a fully inclusive garden to provide a range of sensory play, as well as areas for children to socialise and learn about the environment.

Jade Gough, Community Fund Officer at Severn Trent said: “It’s absolutely incredible to see such an amazing transformation in so little time, that will make huge benefits to those who use the centre. Now, more than ever, it’s important that our communities feel supported, and organisations like KIDS aims to do just that by providing a vital meeting place for children with disabilities and their families during the pandemic.

“We created our fund to help amazing projects like this, that will bring positive changes to our communities. We’re really happy to see that our fund has helped these incredible children, and will help transform and improve the lives of those who use the centre.”

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.

This year alone, the Community Fund has supported 15 projects across the Black Country and Central West Midlands area.

Claire Reid, KIDS Regional Manager said: “The garden at The KIDS Orchard Centre is the only outside place many of our families have been able to access due to the current pandemic.  With the support of the Severn Trent Community fund, we have been able to make the garden a safe, accessible space. Enabling the opportunity of outside play for all of our young people, boosting their happiness, social interaction, self-esteem and communication skills, meaning they have a happier childhood and better quality of life. We really cannot thank you enough for your support” 

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.