Celebrating Dacorum’s Voluntary and Community Groups

Living Magazines sunnyside-rural-trust-and-therapeutic-chicken

This year Dacorum Borough Council have once again recognised the borough’s most inspirational community projects with its Community Grant awards.

Although the Council wasn’t able to host its annual awards evening in person, it was delighted to announce the winners and highly commended projects for its annual Community Awards.

These awards were open to all organisations which received a community grant in 2020-21, and most of the project were focused on helping the community during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions.

Community grants are for all not-for-profit organisations based in Dacorum or working with Dacorum residents and are designed to support community activities and improve the health and wellbeing of residents in Dacorum.

The winners and highly commended organisations this year showed how they were able to deliver both online and in-person projects to positively impact people in Dacorum and to help them maintain good health and wellbeing despite the restrictions of lockdown.

The categories for the awards ceremony are:

  • Dacorum Compact Partnership Award
  • Equality and Diversity
  • Community Capacity
  • Regeneration
  • Community Event
  • Volunteering
  • Health and Wellbeing
  • Active Dacorum

The winning projects

Dacorum Compact Partnership Award – AgeUK Dacorum

They delivered a technology project to help keep older adults connected during lockdown and when restrictions eased they worked in partnership to deliver gardening activities.

Equality and Diversity Award – Sunnyside Rural Trust

This project delivered a social prescribing project to help people through therapeutic sessions at the Northchurch allotment site.

Community Capacity Award – Dacorum Community Trust

Their grant was used to purchase essential equipment for people living in temporary accommodation.

Regeneration Award – Little Gaddesden Bowls and Croquet Club

They used their grant to refurbish the clubhouse, making it match fit and COVID-19 secure.

Community Event Award – Tring Together

The Christmas Festival went virtual in 2020, combining a range of online and at home activities.

Volunteering Award – The Heather Club

Their volunteers worked to deliver online sessions to club members, ensuring they didn’t become isolated during lockdown.

Health and Wellbeing Award – Dacorum Community Dance

Dacorum Community Dance were able to maintain their dance classes online, getting older residents up and moving, and helping to reduce social and digital isolation.

Active Dacorum Award – Tudor’s Supporters Club

They developed a new community fitness initiative combining football with fitness coaching helping adults in Dacorum return to a more active lifestyle.

Could a local project benefit from a Community Grant?

Local community or voluntary groups can apply for a community grant of up to £3,000. The next round of community grant funding is currently open and closes on Tuesday 31 May.

Find out more and apply by visiting www.dacorum.gov.uk/grants.