News In Brief From Millmead

Published on: 30 Apr, 2016
Updated on: 2 May, 2016

Latest news from Guildford Borough Council

Official opening of refurbished paddling pool in Stoke Park

The council’s parks and leisure services department is officially opening the refurbished Stoke Park paddling pool on bank holiday Monday, May 2.

The opening will be at 10.45am and tea, coffee and cakes will be available, along with entertainment for children.

There will be additional parking at Guildford College’s car park, on Stoke Road.

Repair Cafe’s forthcoming events

What do you do with a chair with a wobbly leg? Throw it away? No way! Come and repair it at Guildford’s Repair Café.

The next event will be from 10am to noon, on Saturday, May 7, at St Clare’s Church in Park Barn.

The council says: “We encourage you to bring along any domestic items in need of attention. Our skilled volunteers will help you mend them in order to avoid landfill and save money and resources.”

No coins for parking? No problem

Motorists will no longer have to worry about change at Guildford Borough Council car parks, as RingGo cashless parking will be avail;able from May 9 at all its pay and display sites.

The council says that RingGo is a quick, easy to use mobile phone service, enabling you to pay for parking by credit or debit card, rather than with cash at a machine.

Mobile phone users can download the RingGo app to register and pay for parking, or can call the standard rate telephone number 01483 342266. You can even pre-register in advance either through the apps or at www.RingGo.co.uk.

The first time you use the service you’ll be asked for information about your vehicle, the four or five-digit location code (shown on a sign in the car park) and details of your payment card. The next time you use it, RingGo will recognise your mobile phone and retrieve this information, saving time.

If you’re running late or simply need longer you will be able to top up your parking wherever you are by using the service again. Optional RingGo text reminders also help, these notify you 10 minutes before your parking time is due to run out.

More information at www.guildford.gov.uk/phoneandpayparking

Grants totalling £400,000 to local organisations

Charitable, community and voluntary organisations across the borough will benefit from over £400,000 in grants now approved by the Guildford Borough Council Executive.

Community grants of £123,000 will go to local charitable organisations. GBC fund these grants, which support projects that improve the lives of vulnerable people, promote health and wellbeing, reduce inequalities and improve access to training, skills and work opportunities.

Of the 17 organisations to receive a community grant, 10 will receive a larger grant of over £5,000:
• CHIPS (for the Our World – My Future project – CHIPS provides holiday play for children whose parents need support)
• Crossroads Care (to provide core funding for care hours)
• Queen Elizabeth Park Community Centre (for ground floor development)
• Kane FM (a local radio for the Get Experience and Go Somewhere project)
• The Wey and Arun Canal Trust (at Shalford Canal Visitors Centre)
• Premier Tennis Community Interest Co Ltd (community tennis outreach programme)
• Albury Sports Club (for Albury Heath grounds development)
• Goldhawks Basketball (for Dunk the Junk project)
• Surrey Sharks Rugby League (for Guildford Area Rugby League Development Plan)
• Guildford Bike Project (seed funding for shop manager).

Small grants under £5,000 will go to:
• Surrey Youth Focus
• Oakleaf Enterprise
• Voluntary Action South West Surrey
• Guildford Rowing Club
• Empower Global TA Family Church (Guildford)
• The Pied Piper Theatre
• Synergy Dance Ltd.

The Executive also approved £290,950 funding, identified by the Voluntary Grants Panel, for voluntary services supporting adults in the community.

This is a partnership between Guildford Borough Council and Surrey County Council Adult Social Care Team.

11 organisations will receive voluntary grants:
• Guildford Action (for day service and The GAF)
• Footsteps (for the drop in centre)
• Home Support Services Guildford (to help provide home support)
• Guildford CAB (for the mental health project and access to advice)
• Oakleaf Enterprise (to provide vocational training for adults experiencing mental illness)
• Ash CAB (to support an Independent Living Advisor)
• South West Surrey for Mental Health Ltd (for the Canterbury Care Centre)
• Cruse Bereavement Care (towards advice, guidance and support services)
• Surrey Welfare Rights Unit (to help provide specialist welfare benefits support)
• Outline (Outcrowd Social Inclusion project)
• Age Concern Shalford and Peasmarsh (Help for the Elderly).