Successful Applicants for NFU Mutual Bridgnorth and Acorn Fund Announced
Left to Right: Joanna Morris (Shropshire Community Foundation, Jo Blackburn (Shropshire Rural Support), David Probert (NFU Mutual Bridgnorth), Beth Heath (Shropshire Community Foundation).
Six charities across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin have won funding from a £15,000 grant programme dedicated to easing cost-of-living pressures for local households.
The funding has come from NFU Mutual Bridgnorth branch’s generous contribution of £7,900, through its Agency Giving Fund programme and match funding from SCF’s Acorn Fund, supported by SIIC subscriptions.
The process was particularly challenging, with the fund heavily oversubscribed and nominations from so many brilliant organisations doing vital work locally, making the shortlisting decision incredibly difficult.
Post-Covid surveys reported that 90% of Shropshire VSCSE organisations had experienced increasing costs with increasing pressures around the cost of energy, transportation, and staff or volunteer shortages. In a further Cost of Living Impacts survey, nearly 75% of respondents said that they had experienced an increase in demand for their services with the majority reporting that they were struggling to meet that increased demand.
At a time of significant financial strain, this funding is about getting help to charities and their beneficiaries quickly, effectively and inclusively, ensuring families across Shropshire who are the hardest hit, receive the support they need, when they need it most.
Shropshire Rural Support, a specialist charity supporting farming and rural communities across Shropshire has won £3,000. On the impact of the funding, SRS Coordinator, Jo Blackburn explains, “Farming is in a really difficult situation, this funding is going to have a huge impact. We’re focusing on improving people’s homes through energy advice, having warmer homes and lowering their bills. Because of the training we’ve had, we’re also delivering in North Shropshire and it will make a huge difference in an area that can feel really isolated. It’s broadening our reach, bringing a totally different thing to SRS, using it as a tool to talk to people and letting them have a chance to open up to us. It’s brilliant, thank you so much”.
Little Stars, a charity tackling hygiene and food poverty among families with babies and young children across Shropshire was awarded £3000. The charity supports families in severe hardship, including domestic abuse survivors and refugees, by providing essential items such as nappies, wipes, toiletries, and infant formula.
Cleobury Mortimer Food Bank won £500 enabling the charity to provide fresh food vouchers and giving people the choice of healthy food locally.
Community Resource’s Energy Advice Project, a Shropshire-wide project delivered by Community Resource supporting vulnerable households, particularly older people facing fuel poverty was awarded £1,500. The funded activity focuses on distributing “Warmer Packs” designed to increase household resilience during winter months.
Newport Youth Café Project has won a grant of £1,500 helping to provide free, nutritious evening meals to young people experiencing food poverty in Newport. The project combines food support with safe social activities, helping to reduce hunger, isolation, and stigma while promoting wellbeing and confidence.
The fund awarded £4000 to Telford Crisis Support, a frontline crisis charity supporting families and individuals in severe hardship across Telford & Wrekin. The funding strengthens emergency food provision during the difficult winter and early-year months, helping households facing acute food poverty and financial crisis.
Our heartfelt thanks to our partners and to the grassroots organisations working tirelessly to strengthen the resilience of our local families and communities.
Further information about Shropshire Community Foundation and its grants scheme is available at Home Page – Shropshire Community Foundation
