Severn Trent has donated grants totalling over £53,000 to four Warwickshire-based charities from its Community Fund.

Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind has received £21,528 for the replacement of 27 windows in its Boston Lodge building. Originally a care home, the group purchased the building in 2018 and has been undertaking a rolling programme of refurbishment, with the new windows essential in helping the charity to reduce utility costs and increase the comfort of people who use the centre. 

A further £18,000 has been donated to Lenton Lane’s Baptist Church, in Aldermans Green, to improve the kitchen at its community hall. The hall is used all week by a range of community groups and has undergone a series of upgrades recently, including installation of projectors and a PA system so that it can be used for conferences and training.

Nuneaton and North Warwickshire Equestrian Centre Riding for the Disabled has received £11,066 for the creation of a 12-month co-ordinator role to recruit volunteers to support people to upskill and achieve further training and employment opportunities. A part of the community since 1979, the centre offers a purpose-built disabled riding facility which offers riding therapy, learning and training for over 200 disabled adults, young people and children each week. 

A grant of £3,000 has been given to Perkisound CIO, a unique musically inspired ‘Stay and Play’ recreation centre for people with additional needs, their family, friends and carers. The money will go towards development of a butterfly enclosure and learning space within a currently vacant barn and polytunnel on the site.

Perkisound provides a safe, stimulating place to play and learn and has a variety of quality play features, the most striking being an outstanding music garden. Our aim is to improve general health and wellbeing, reduce anxiety and loneliness and provide learning opportunities.

Sue Heyes, from Severn Trent's Community Fund team, said: “It is fantastic that we have been able to continue to support some truly outstanding community-focused projects such as these. It is important that we are able to give something back and the work that these four organisations do for the Warwickshire community is fantastic and we’re really pleased to be able to support them.

"We are always keen to hear from groups or organisations that are seeking funding for projects that can make a real, tangible difference to their communities and we recommend that they get in touch to see if they can benefit from a share of the Community Fund.”

For more information on the Severn Trent Community Fund and to find out how to make an application visit: https://www.stwater.co.uk/about-us/severn-trent-community-fund/