Trustees allocate coalfield money

At its meeting in late November, the trustees of Aylesham Workshop Project allocated funds to support a wide range of good causes in the village and nearby areas.

The money was part of a £30,000 fund granted by the Coalfield Regeneration Trust earlier this year to be spent backing projects and groups in the former Kent coalfield area.

Aylesham Community Hub was given £1,000 to cover the cost of surveying a potential site land identified for a proposed new community building.

Betteshanger Pigeon Club was awarded £500 for an automated clocking system Betteshanger Brass Band has been supported to the tune of £2,100 as members wanted to wear a more casual uniform for some of their performances. The money will also help pay for a new PA system.

Betteshanger Welfare Fishing Club receives £540 to support an angling tournament as it bids to recruit new members.

Betteshanger Colliery Welfare Cricket Club was given £550 to enable it to repair its cricket square ahead of next season’s matches.

Betteshanger Bowls Club will be getting £3,150 to purchase a scarifier to help improve the maintenance of its green.

Betteshanger Social Welfare Club will be able to buy new chairs after being awarded £1,000 towards the cost. It was granted a further £2,962 to purchase a drop down screen, with projector, for use during social evenings, film and music nights.

Elvington village hall successfully applied for £2,300 to help pay for a new floor polisher, replace external guttering and install a new oven in the kitchen.

Aylesham Welfare & Leisure Centre receives £3,384 to replace furniture as it prepares to attract more private functions.

The Aylesham based 20th Deal Cornwallis Scout Group benefits from a £1,500 grant to enable it to set up an interactive geocaching trail around the village.

Woodpecker Court, which runs a community farm on Tilmanstone Welfare’s grounds, successfully applied for £1,500 so that it can install new animal shelters there. Its livestock includes goats, alpacas and sheep and the farm works in partnership with the village primary school and the welfare club.
Aylesham Heritage Group will be able to buy new furniture, thanks to a £975 award. This will be purchased upon the group’s return to Aylesham House after refurbishment work has been completed.

The workshop trust has a remaining £1,220 to allocate and hopes to do this in the coming few weeks.

• The workshop project trust holds its AGM in the site’s main building in Ackholt Road, on Wednesday 4 December at 6pm. All are welcome to attend.

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