Community Chest

Three years ago the Rotary Club of Currie Balerno set up an initiative called the Community Chest – a grant fund to offer financial support to projects benefiting the local community.

Now in conjunction with Balerno Village Trust and with generous support from CALA Homes, Rotary’s Community Chest makes grants of up to £500 each to local organisations such as schools, social clubs, sports clubs and so on.

The Rotary Club has been committed to the local area since it was set up in 1981, and the Community Chest initiative is a way of building on that commitment. Balerno Village Trust was keen to participate in a small grants scheme using funds from Harlaw Hydro to benefit the local communities, so the Community Chest is a perfect way for the two organisations to come together with the scheme.

They are keen to see the grant money spread across as many different projects as possible. Recipients to date include Dean Park PTA, Currie Day Centre, Ratho Environment Group, Pentland Duke of Edinburgh Group and Youth Vision, amongst others. All the grants are for very specific small-scale projects, such as purchasing equipment, funding a trip or premises repairs. A committee comprising members from Rotary and Balerno Village Trust appraises the applications and decides on the amount to be awarded each one.

Any local club or voluntary organisation within the Currie, Balerno, Juniper Green, Ratho and Kirkenwton area can apply for a Community Chest grant. Application forms are available on the websites of the Rotary Club of Currie Balerno and Balerno Village Trust, and the forms contain full information on project eligibility. Applications for 2019 are open until 31 st May 2019.

For more information on the Rotary Club of Currie Balerno see www.cbrotary.org

For more information on Balerno Village Trust see www.balernovt.org.uk

CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY CHEST?

If you are a local business and are able to contribute to the Community Chest to increase the amount of grant funding available, they would love to hear from you!

Please contact cc@cbrotary.org