Express & Star

Cash for Your Community: How more than 100 groups got a boost from 2015's giveaway

Last year's Cash For Your Community campaign saw more than 100 organisations bag themselves a share of a £35,000 jackpot.

Published
The Small Wonders Stay and Play Group collected the most tokens last year

After the Express & Star and HomeServe announced the funding would be offered up to community groups across the West Midlands, group leaders responded by collecting thousands upon thousands of tokens.

The money was shared between the groups, with those collecting the most tokens taking away the highest proportion of the total.

From dancers to Scouts and sporting stars of the future, the money was spread far and wide making big differences across the community.

Grace Ruskin, of Compton Hospice, said: "The money given to us after last year's Cash For Your Community Project equalled the cost of offering six patients a visit to our Woods Therapy Day Centre.

"The centre allows those facing life threatening illnesses to meet others in the same situation and that is really an invaluable experience for them.

"Coming to the day centre is often the only time they can get out and socialise during the week.

"We are incredibly grateful for the support the community offered us during the project.

"It is wonderful to know the public were so keen to help."

The original list of applicants had to be whittled down to 150 before members of the public were asked to collect tokens on behalf of their favoured group before they are added up at the end to see who has collected the most.

Colin Thompson, of Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletics Club, said the club's winnings from last year was used to buy equipment for aspiring athletes from across the city.

"Unlike most clubs, who survive off their clubhouse, we are very dependent on fund raising and donations, so Cash For Your Community was a really big help for us," he said.

The top 20 groups in 2015 attended a winners' ceremony at the Banks's stadium's Savoy Lounge for the cheque presentation, which was won by the Small Wonders Stay and Play Group which was presented with a cheque for £4,067 after supporters collected thousands of tokens for it.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.