In year one, we used our allocation to fund six projects totalling £188,125.
Eco light festival, Gilbert White and the Oates Collections, in Selborne
£41,455.48
This grant fund will go towards the UK’s first ‘eco light festival’ which will place sustainability at the forefront of the experience and bring to life Gilbert White’s work as the ‘father of ecology’. The light festival will create minimal light pollution while being powered by portable packs developed in Bordon. This will boost the visitor economy and provide affordable entertainment for the residents of East Hampshire.
Jane Austen memorial garden, Alton Town Council
£46,705.36
The Alton Assembly Rooms garden is in a prominent town centre location and is used not only by residents stopping for a rest at one of the benches, but also by the international visitors who come to Alton for Jane Austen Regency Week. This project will put in place paving to make the garden accessible and new covered seating areas, complemented by a Regency style planting scheme and a bespoke Jane Austen statue.
Hub for social occasions and celebrations, Stroud Village Hall
£9,616
Stroud Village Hall already has a vibrant and engaging community participation programme, and with improved facilities in its function room it can increase the number of people it can entertain and improve the quality of the entertainment it provides. This will increase engagement with the younger members of the community and promote the social benefits while combatting social isolation.
Enhancing barn for event use, Chawton House
£10,102
Dyers Barn sits at the end of the drive to Chawton House, next to the public car park. With improved off-grid power source, improved lighting and facilities it can be used for more community and visitor events.
Upgrading roads, parking, paths and accessibility, Butser Ancient Farm
£50,000
Butser Ancient Farm is an archaeology centre providing outdoor education and tourists from around the world, run with the help of volunteers. The current parking and pathways isn’t currently as accessible as the visitors require, and these practical improvements will enable more people to access the positive physical and mental effects being in nature will bring.
Community Kitchen, Passfield Social Club
£35,698
The Community Kitchen will allow the club to entertain a wider breadth of the local community, while attracting new ventures (such as bidding for a mobile banking space), providing a refurbished meeting space and brand new catering facility will enable Passfield Social Club to improve its remit as a community hub.