Joint venture launches £50,000 community fund

A year after it was formed, a joint venture has launched a new community fund to support projects in North Warwickshire and Nuneaton.

Develop Warwickshire has opened its new £50,000 community fund and it has now supported its inaugural project in Warton.

The annual grant fund comprises £25,000 in cash and £25,000 work in kind from the joint venture partners. It will support a range of projects in the area, the first being the installation of five new park benches at Warton Recreation Ground.

Develop Warwickshire was formed in December 2022 and is a joint venture between Countryside Partnerships, Warwickshire Property and Development Group (WPDG) and Warwickshire County Council.

The fund has also made a £1,000 donation to support the 2024 Warton Carnival as the joint venture continues its commitment to support the community in the village.

The benches have been funded through a combination of grant funding from Warwickshire County Council and community fundraising, with the top five donors recognised in commemorative plaques.

Develop Warwickshire’s Community Fund has funded the installation of the five large benches.

Develop support

“The work to install the benches is very valuable for a small community like Warton. We would also like to thank Develop Warwickshire for the generous donation which will support our forthcoming carnival in June.”

Develop Warwickshire is developing 71 new homes in Warton, including 40 per cent affordable housing.

Brookmill Meadows is the first development from the joint venture and the first homes are expected to be completed in early 2024.

The on-site team has been working with schools in the area for educational visits to the site, providing an insight into health and safety, the benefits of apprenticeships and career opportunities in construction.

Organisations and community groups from across North Warwickshire and Nuneaton will be able to apply for grants from the Develop Warwickshire Community Fund.

Stuart Buckley, Managing Director of WDPG, said: “We are proud to be launching this new fund which we hope will make a real difference to communities in Nuneaton and North Warwickshire. Every year we will be supporting a range of projects through this fund.”

Phil McHugh, Managing Director, North West Midlands, Countryside, added: “Creating great places means integrating new communities with those already established. We want to positively impact those living around our schemes, and through this community fund we can make a real difference and leave a lasting legacy for local communities.”