Festive And Travel SMART Funding Time At Bellfields

Published on: 11 Dec, 2014
Updated on: 11 Dec, 2014

A fun and festive time was had by all at the St Peter’s Christmas Fayre and Travel SMART Voting Day on Saturday (December 6).

Meeting Santa at the fayre.

From face painting to a visit from Santa all accompanied by the smooth vocal talents of the Surrey Fringe close-harmony singers, Stoke residents enjoyed a great afternoon of Christmas fun.

Surrey Fringe singers.

The event, which was held at the church in Hazel Avenue hosted the Travel Smart voting event during which, applicants to the Large Travel SMART fund for Stoke and Stoughton, were invited to make their case to residents for support in funding their projects.

Dave Slinn from the Matrix Trust makes his appeal to voters on behalf of the trust’s funding bid.

The session culminated in a community vote to decide which initiatives would be awarded grants.

Funding was awarded to all those who put in a bid and made a presentation on the day.

They were: £15,000 for The Matrix Trust’s Ready for Action project that performs clean-up duties, gardening and repairs for householders in need.

Another project for The Matrix Trust to help train young volunteers, also received £15,000.

A local youth consortium received £15,000 for its Aspire project that will help young people who are not in work, education or training, or at risk.

£15,000 was awarded to Jellytree Productions Ltd (part of Lockwood Arts) that uses film and other media to motivate young people, helping them to interact within their community and by doing so cut transport costs and usage.

The Guildford’s based Future World of Work received £15,000 to contiune its work in the Stoke area of Guildford.

The CHIPS playscheme received £8,700 funding and Furniturelink received £15,000 to help with its ongoing work renovating unwanted furniture and selling it.

Cllr Pauline Searle hosted the Travel SMART voting event.

There was a variety of amazing projects and the speakers for them made their cases with passion.

Cakes in the bake off.

This wasn’t the only competition during the afternoon however. Finalists of the Christmas bake off competition displayed their show-stopping creations before their cakes and bakes were auctioned to raise funds for the Tear Fund.

The Joining In! co-ordinator for Stoke (Bellfields and Slyfield), Helen Linnell, said: “It was great to meet so many organisations and residents in such a lovely setting and to engage with some new members of the Joining In! Stoke Forum.”