Groups supporting young people, wellbeing and the family have been announced among the first recipients of £35,000 of grants awarded as part of Wessex Water’s investment in communities to the west of Bristol.
The Wessex Water Foundation, the charitable arm of the regional utility company, is supporting good causes in the Avonmouth & Lawrence Weston ward for the next three years via the new Avonmouth Area Community Fund, as Wessex Water continues its £100 million expansion of Bristol’s water recycling centre at Kings Weston Lane.
Seven groups throughout Avonmouth, Lawrence Weston and Shirehampton will be the first beneficiaries of the fund, set up to support local communities that surround the five-year project, which got under way earlier this year.
The fund will prioritise activities that work with young people aged 11+, increase opportunities for improving health and wellbeing and improve access to job-related skills and training and was created in co-operation with the local Wessex Water Community Liaison Group (CLG), which was set up prior to the start of the expansion project.
Comprised of local representatives from Avonmouth, Lawrence Weston and Shirehampton and the company itself, the group meets regularly to discuss issues around the expansion and ongoing operations at the existing water recycling centre.
The newly-established fund is run in partnership with Quartet Community Foundation, who provide in-depth local knowledge and grant giving to grass roots groups across Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
Wessex Water project manager Gareth Rogers said: “We’re delighted to announce this first round of funding to support local causes in the area and, thanks to working closely with both the CLG and Quartet, we can ensure the fund meets the needs of the local community.
“With Bristol and areas around it projected to grow substantially over the coming decades, the expansion of what is already Wessex Water’s largest site is a vital addition to the city’s infrastructure to help meet that increasing demand – but it is also much more.
“We can positively contribute to the city’s vision of good social and environmental outcomes and help to drive sustainable economic growth and our project planning and delivery has also helped us build local relationships and forge potential collaboration in areas of business, employment, environmental, historical and travel.’’
Among those awarded funding was Home-Start Bristol and South Gloucestershire, which received a two-year grant of nearly £10,000, and manager Terri Fletcher said: “We are thrilled to receive funding from the Wessex Water Foundation. It means that we can continue to run our much-needed ‘Mums in Mind’ group in Lawrence Weston.
“The group supports the mental health and wellbeing of new mums with children under the age of two who are feeling anxious and isolated. It gives women a safe space to talk about their feelings and build friendships and helps give children the best start in life.’’
Shirehampton Methodist Church won around £5,000 towards a hub project co-ordinator to run activities supporting local residents with Jobs, Training, Enterprise and Well-being.
Team member Victoria Crane said: “This is important for our local community because Shirehampton Hub is a much-needed resource and safe space, receiving over 5,000 visits from local residents per year. Many people visiting our Hub are experiencing poverty, unemployment, physical and health challenges, loneliness, discrimination and stigma. Shirehampton Hub has literally been life-saving for a number of local people.’’
Avonmouth Community Centre secured £3,500 towards the running of its after-school youth play club, with centre manager Rachel Haig saying: “We are so grateful for the grant from Wessex Water to support our after-school play club for young people.
“The Community Centre has some great sports facilities and garden space that we are making available each Wednesday with help from youth workers with Oasis Hub North.
“As the club grows, this grant will enable us to increase the activities and provide storage space for the equipment for play, as well as update the basketball boards, add some graffiti chalk boards to the garden and other outdoor games/storytelling space and some indoor equipment.
“We hope this will give a strong message of hope to the kids in Avonmouth that there is a space where they are welcome and provided for.’’
The Fund will re-open for applications in July 2025. For more information about applying, please visit Avonmouth Area Community Fund | Wessex Water.
