Cash injection for Eastbourne community projects

Eastbourne Borough Council says it supported a wide range of projects through its devolved budget scheme in November and December last year.

The scheme allows people to contact their local councillors with funding suggestions for initiatives, events or one-off works.

Each ward has been given £10,000 each year for the scheme with the aim of improving the lives of residents.

In the Sovereign ward projects that benefited included:

- Fish 4 Kids beach angling competitions

- Eastbourne Nomads Angling Club

- A new sensory table for Defiant Sports – a local sports club which provides inclusive sports and activities sessions

- Kingsmere Community Association were able to spread Christmas cheer among local children with festive chocolate gifts

- New road signs were put up around the Kings Park development

- Chestnut Tree Hospice, a children’s hospice that provides care and support for children and young people with progressive life-shortening conditions.

Meads councillors agreed funding for the following initiatives:

- Eastbourne Society were able to buy a scanner so that a large number of documents at the Heritage Centre can now be saved and stored long-term

- Meads Village Allotments plan for a story board to be put up to inform people about the site and its history

- The third anniversary lunch for Just Friends, a charity that aims to combat loneliness

- Plastic Free Eastbourne’s new water refill station planned for Helen Garden

Upperton councillors helped finance a number of schemes such as planting trees and the creation of a tree nursery at The Forest School in Gildredge Park.

Plastic Free Eastbourne were also able to install a new water refill station to reduce the number of disposable bottles in use.

Blackberry Buzzards community group received funds from Langney councillors towards its activities in Shinewater Park including forestry skills workshops and the creation of a garden and compost toilet.

Willingdown Trees Community Centre was awarded money from Hampden Park councillors for a new dishwasher too.

For more information on the budget scheme visit lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/councillors-committees-and-meetings/devolved-ward-budgets