Cash for Your Community 2016: Meet the winners as £35,000 handed out to good causes

A massive £35,000 was up for grabs for the 150 qualifying community groups entering the Cash For Your Community contest.

And on Monday the top 20 winners collected their cheques at a glitzy presentation at Walsall's Banks's Stadium.

The competition was run jointly by Express & Star and Walsall-based HomeServe. A record number of tokens were collected. Nearly 534,500 tokens were submitted, compared to last year's 309,600, an increase of 73%.

On hand to give over the money was Express & Star circulation director Dean Barber and HomeServe chief executive Martin Bennett.

It was an afternoon of tension as the top 20 invited winners did not know where they had come and how much they had won.

E&S circulation sales manager Andy Maxwell revealed all the winners, starting with the group 20th and finishing with the overall winner – Compton Hospice.

The hospice had collected an amazing 55,967 tokens, beating second place by more than 15,000. The group received a cheque of £4,334.

Fundraiser Simon Cater said: "It is wonderful for us.

"In particular, it is good news for all the people out in the community who depend on our support."

The hospice will use the money to help fund its use of home nurses who care for people suffering terminal illnesses in their home.

The hospice has space for 18 patients at its base, but cares for 650 in the Black Country, Staffordshire and surrounding areas. Each nurse visit costs £150.

Mr Cater said: "Most people want to remain in their home when they die – and we can help them do that.

"Our home nurses not only care for people, but can prescribe medication, meaning users can stay at home.

"We want to further expand our service, helping more people.

"Winning in a competition like this will help us go a long way."

Second in the competition was Small Wonders Stay and Play Group. The organisation collected 40,642 tokens ,winning £3,421. After winning last year's competition, the group were back, this time looking for money to buy more sensory equipment to help young people.

The group is based at the Lifespring Church in Chapel Ash. Group manager Ursula Wastall, said: "The money will go towards new things for our sensory play room. We have over 180 children in and 80 on the waiting list.

We came first last year, third the year before and now second. We've got one of each."

Third in the competition was Sandwell Flyers Gymnastics Academy, based in West Bromwich.

The group, which finished runners-up last year, this year picked up £3,277 after collecting 38,225 tokens.

The group consists of more than 300 children and adults. The cash will go toward new equipment.

Member Sophie Taylor said: "The money will go towards more equipment and we want to put our volunteers on a training course.

"The estate will see its third unit open now because of this amazing fundraiser." And while special emphasis was given on the night to the top three winners, it was an afternoon of celebrations for the remaining 17. Fourth was NCT Wolverhampton. Based in Compton Road, the group helps parents and parents-to-be.

Having collected 32,244 tokens, the group won £1,921. Group leader Hayley Curtis-Gaze said: "The money will be used for feeding benches, little gardeners' club, and new slings. We support all parents, from contraception to child's second birthday. "This is our first year and we're over the moon.''

In fifth place was Willenhall Trinity Bowls Club. The club has picked up cash at the two previous Cash For Your Community schemes. It purchased a new ceiling last year, while the year before it bough a life-saving defibrillator.

This year it will use the £1,286 money awarded, having collected 21,587 tokens, build a new roof to its clubhouse in Acre Rise.

Secretary Norman Kempson said: "We need the new roof to protect the ceiling we sorted from a previous win."

Sixth was Beacon Centre for the Blind. Collecting 16,911 tokens, bosses picked up a cheque for £1,007.

The money will be used to run golf programmes with young users, helping them into sport, while improving their confidence.

Spokesman Helen Brown said: "We're absolutely delighted to have done so well and to have received the cash which we will put to good use. The money will go to a golf programme. We did a senior golf programme for the first time recently, and now we want to run it out for young people.

"The programme may end in a tournament for the young people to take part in."

The centre runs the golf programmes in association with Mark Butler Golf Academy in Sedgley.

Seventh was Phoenix Theatre Company, which has its headquarters in Seisdon. The group got a cheque for £774 after collecting 12,998 tokens. The cash will be used for its orchestra, helping improve performances.

Coming eight, winning £763 with 12,765 tokens, was Cannock Division Girl Guides. The group caters for 400 girls. Karen Micklewright helps run the group and said: "We are going to spend the money on a new building. The old one is wooden and no longer fit for purpose.

"We have emptied it, but now need to start the process of creating a new one. That starts with raising the money."

Ninth was Codsall Village Hall and Playing Field Charity Ltd. Members collected 12,691 tokens, winning £756. The money will be used to buy new toilets for the popular meeting point, which is now 52 years old.

Tenth was Circle of Friends Shelfield, winning £736 after collecting 12,355 tokens.

At 11th was Excel Church in Bilston, winning £707 after collecting 11,653 tokens. The Olive Circle Foundation, based in Cannock, came 12th. The group supports 'the needy not the greedy', and is giving the cash to Bridgtown Bowling Club. Founder Marie Hayden: "We are very happy about this. Money will be used to upgrade the facilities. It's nice to see communities coming together.

"No-one involved in the charity takes a wage, all work is done from the heart. We were expecting a 20th place and ended up 12th in the end – it is fantastic."

Coming in at number 13 was Netherton Colts Junior Football Club. The club won £590.

Manager Steve Pooler said: "It is a bit of a shock really. With the money, we'll try to give kids more area to play. It will go towards a football pitch."

Express & Star editor Keith Harrison, who gave a welcoming speech ahead of the giving out of the cheques, said: "At the launch of this year's competition we aimed to make it bigger and better than before.

"I'm delighted to report we had a record number of tokens collected, which means more people are getting involved.

"This is a fantastic scheme which helps those groups who offer so much for so little in our communities."

Mr Bennett, from HomeServe, said he was delighted to have been involved in this year's competition.

He said: "Having seen the success of the past years it was great to get involved again. I know for all of our employees who absolutely love getting involved. It is really great for us from a people's perspective. We do a lot of community work and this is the pinnacle of what we do in the year."

He added: "What is brilliant, what was special about this year, was the amount of people getting involved and over half a million coupons sent in.

"That is amazing for a relatively small community."

On a personal level, Mr Bennett revealed his happiness at Compton Hospice, a place which looked after his wife's grandmother, winning the competition.

He said: "I used to live next to Compton Hospice. My wife's nan went there. To see them win today was fantastic."

Compton Hospice – £4,334.48

Small Wonders Stay and Play Group – £3,421.42

Sandwell Flyers Gymnastics Academy – £3,277.42

NCT Wolverhampton – £1,921.08

Willenhall Trinity Bowls Club – £1,286.14

Beacon Centre for the Blind – £1,007.55

Phoenix Theatre Company – £774.41

Cannock Division Girl Guiding – £760.53

Codsall Village Hall and Playing Fields Charity – £756.12

Circle of Friends Shelfield – £736.10

Excel Church – £707.09

The Olive Circle Foundation – £694.28

Netherton Colts Junior Football Club – £589.72

West Bromwich Arthritis Care Self Help Group – £544.32

Walsall Breast Cancer Support Group – £538.66

Wolverhampton Fire Cadets – £514.77

Wildside Activity Centre – £475.38

Wombourne Bowl Club – £400.31

Wolverhampton Alz Cafe – £385.78

Give Us a Break – £377.02

Estrella Dance Academy – £343.71

Hollywood Bowling Express – £339.72

Burntwood Live at Home – £339.36

Action4Bilston – £305.34

Coven Playing Field Committee – £277.40

The Friends of Dartmouth Park - £262.21

The Rainbow Club – £257.56

Bridging the Gap – £249.04

Young at Heart Club – £247.67

St. Columba's Day Centre – £245.53

Walsall Friendship Circle – £244.63

Fordhouses C.C. Bowls Section – £237.66

The Feelgood Choir – £235.70

Friends of Broadwaters – £220.21

Essington Bowls Club – £218.84

Charlemont Methodist Church – £212.28

Bentons Sisters of REST – £210.73

Cannock Ladies Hockey Club – £207.28

St Chads Arts & Crafts Group – £197.68

Tiptown Town – £196.61

The Haven Wolverhampton – £191.79

Central Youth Theatre – £189.76

Walsall Cardiac Rehabilitation Health Care – £188.03

Wolverhampton Community Brass Band – £179.21

Wolverhampton Gateway Club – £170.81

1st Heath Hayes Scout Group – £160.86

Walsall Pensioners' Convention – £147.28

Hednesford Town FC Supporters Association – £145.02

Hallam Street Community Project – £140.01

Dudley Olympics – £136.73

Air Training Corporations – £132.98

Cheslyn Hay Boys Brigade – £132.15

Bentley Community Tigers FC – £131.73

Pedmore Cricket Club – £131.61

Coseley Athletic Bowling Club – £124.34

Moat Hall Primary P.T.F.A – £118.44

Dangerfield 50's Plus Club – £117.97

Wolverhampton & District MS Therapy Centre Ltd – £117.79

Carers Advice & Resource Establishment, Sandwell (CARES) – £114.39

Perton Playing Fields Association – £111.23

Dudley Sports Bowls Club – £110.00

Diabetes UK (Wyre Forest Group) – £109.75

Portobello Community Association – £100.09

Cheer Angels – £95.33

1st Wednesfield Brownies and 2nd Wednesfield Rainbows – £93.06

Friends of Perton Middle School – £92.94

Penn Golf Club Ltd – £91.39

DiscoverU - £91.39

Old Hall School – £86.57

Dudley Choral Society – £83.59

Sandwell Cardiac Club – £83.41

Newhampton Arts Centre – £80.97

The Good Shepherd Ministry – £80.07

2nd Wednesbury Boys Brigade – £79.24

Rangers U16's – £76.62

Landywood District Voluntary Help Centre – £74.12

5-11 CLUB – £73.82

1st and 2nd Bilston Guides – £72.93

Upper Gornal Pensioners Club – £67.62

Friends of Gornal Library – £66.37

Asbestos Related Conditions, Allied Ind Dis – £64.82

Age UK Dudley Health and Wellbeing – £64.17

Dudley Lions Club – £63.63

King Street Progressive Club & Institute – £62.02

The Ettingshall Village Association – £60.65

Wyrley Juniors FC- £60.18

The Marching Band of St. Gregory's – £60.06

Oxley Village Residents Associations – £59.54

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Charity - £59.58

The Wheely Different Theatre Company – £58.69

Tipton ARTS – £58.39

Kaleidoscope Plus Group – £57.37

Brierley Hill Samaritans – £57.20

Debonair Dance Academy – £56.60

The WD'S – £53.63

All Saints Action Network – £54.40

Warley Woods Community Trust – £53.50

Hill Top Sons of Rest - £50

Wellington Road Youth Project – £50

The Jane Lane School – £50

St Giles Walsall Hospice – £50

Howley Grange Scout Group – £50

Lye & Wollescote Sons of Rest – £50

Hope Church Friendship Group and Ladies Circle – £50

Blakenhall Community Resource Group – £50

Tettenhall Transport Heritage Centre – £50

7th Bloxwich Rainbows – £50

Oasis Soup Kitchen – £50

Rushall May Fayre Committee – £50

Wolverhampton & Bilston AC – £50

Tipton Town FC – £50

1st Blakenhall Heath Scout Group – £50

St John's Church Preservation Group – £50