Groups rush to register for Cash for Your Community 2016
It is less than two weeks after its launch and already more than 100 groups have registered to take part in this year's Cash For Your Community scheme.
The venture, being run by the Express & Star and West Midlands-based home emergency insurance cover and repairs firm HomeServe, is offering a share of £35,000 to up to 150 organisations. It opened to registrations on August 8.
Remaining groups have only a week to register, with the deadline being next Saturday. Out of the registrations so far, around half were involved last year with new groups applying.
The scheme is in its third year and involves groups collecting tokens printed in the newspaper.
The group with the most amount of tokens claims the highest prize.
From dancers to Scouts and sporting stars of the future, the money will be spread far and wide in order to help those most in need making big differences across the community. Last year, Small Wonders Stay and Play Group topped the pile.
It collected 30,000 tokens to takeaway £4,067. The money was spent on a sensory board and play panels at the Chapel Ash-play group. The first year the group came third, using the cash to help fund a sensory play room. Ursula Wastall, co-leader of the group, said: "Winning last year was a great surprise and I would encourage any group, no matter how small, to take part. If you don't then you can't win but if you do, the benefits can be huge."
The registered groups are validated by a team at the Express & Star. Each will be contacted to inform if they have made the final cut.
In total, up to 150 will be shortlisted for the scheme with a feature printed on September 15 in the newspaper profiling each one. Readers will then be urged to help collect tokens for the groups in the following weeks.
The closing date for submitting tokens will be November 11. Finally, after the tokens have been counted up a presentation at Walsall Football Club will be held inviting the top groups, when the prizes will be given out The full list of results will be published in the newspaper on December 9.
Viv Birch, promotions manager at the Express & Star, said: "With only a week to go, we would urge all the groups and clubs across our area to get themselves organised and complete the form on this page. Remember, places are limited and we want everyone to grab this opportunity."
