How We are Spending the £1 million

The chart below is a summary of how much we have spent on Thurcroft Big Local funding between August 2014 and July 2017. Funding has been spent on projects and priorities identified in the Thurcroft Big Local Plan. Before interest, we still have a minimum of £283,495 left in our funding pot and can still access this anytime over the next 7 years.

Community Pride: We have provided skips, arranged litter picks and organised numerous community events including the Summer Gala each year. We have raised £7960 which we can use for community events when the funding ends.

Regeneration: We have spent £526,624 on our biggest project which  has been the building of Thurcroft Hub on New Orchard Lane delivering sports and social activities to the local community . We have also provided advice services to residents.

Children and Young People: We have run  regular youth clubs through Youth Work Works, summer playschemes and contributed funding to the new playground near Gordon Bennett Memorial Hall

Infrastructure: We employ a member of staff Rachel Cole for 2 days a week, we have produced newsletters, rented a shop and provided £8720 in small grants to groups in the village.

Thank Yous

“Thank you to Big Local for their generous grant. It was well spent at our Good Friday event and we had a fantastic time. We had many positive comments about the activities and the organisation of the day”

Moira Leach – Monday Club

“On behalf of the  Bowling Club I would like to thankyou for the 10% of grant that Banks gave us. Your grant is truly appreciated and goes a long way to supporting our club.”

Ray Barrass – Thurcroft Bowling Club

Thurcroft Hub Now Open

Thurcroft Hub opening ceremony was held on   Friday 10th March 2017.

 

The Big Local Partnership and the Thurcroft Institute and Recreation Ground (TIRG) have been working together over the last couple of years to make this project happen. This brand new sports venue will bring much improved and needed sporting facilities to the local community.The sports facilities will include football pitches and a cricket pitch for both adults and juniors to enjoy, an indoor sports hall for netball, basketball, tennis and badminton as well as modern and secure changing facilities for men, women and children.Other facilities include a function room accommodating up to 80 people and an office/meeting room available for hire. Private use of the sports bar and kitchen is also available.The Thurcroft Hub is a community building, which has been funded through the Big Lottery Fund and will be open to the public all year round.

 

 

Sad Times for Thurcroft Big Local

Sadly  we received the news that Alan Bucknall, chair of Thurcroft Big Local has died having fought bravely against cancer over the past year.

Alan has been a passionate and dedicated supporter of Big Local from the beginning.

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Despite his illness he insisted on turning up to show his support and offer encouragement at Big Local activities. 

I have attached a few recent photos of Alan handing over the chair to his vice-chair, and the most recent where he is proudly reading the promotional booklet for the long awaited but soon to be completed new ‘Thurcroft Hub’ at the Thurcroft Big Local Gala this summer, both of which will be a lasting legacy of the time and commitment he gave to Big Local.

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Alan, along with his smile, humour and eternal optimism will be sadly missed and I felt it right to acknowledge him and in memory of him share with you all how much he valued what we are all doing and to assure you it is of value and can make a genuine and positive difference.

Good night and God Bless

Alister Shaw (Big Local Rep)

Alan Bucknall

Alan Bucknall was a near perfect Chair of Thurcroft Big Local and an inspiration to us all. He understood the success of Thurcroft Big Local was in the hands of residents themselves and that it was all about community led action, supporting initiatives that Thurcroft residents themselves wanted to take forward. he did everything he could to make sure that happened.

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Alan had all the best qualities of a good Chair – he was a diplomat, a real team player and knew and could sensitively deal with difficult situations when they arose. He supported and facilitated the Big Local Partnership and community activity with a positive and helpful attitude supporting us to work together helping make Thurcroft a better place to live in.

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A gentle, thoughtful and considerate man, Alan will be missed by all of us at Thurcroft Big Local. His funeral will be at 11.30am on Thursday 6th October 2016. All our condolences go to Muriel and his family.

Steve Ruffle