Our first round of Community Support Scheme funding for 2025 awarded donations to eight local charities.
The Community Support Scheme offers funding to organisations in and around our ten branch towns. Applications are open four times each year, and typical grant amounts range from £100-£500. The first round of applications for 2025 closed at the end of January, and we were excited to make donations to the following organisations.
A-Fest Andover CIC
We donated £500 to cover essential costs for A-Fest, on Sunday 27 April in Andover high street, ensuring it remains a high-quality, accessible, and inclusive event for the Andover community.
A-Fest would not exist without the kind support of local businesses and companies, like Newbury Building Society, and so we are very grateful for this financial support in ensuring that young people and their families can access a free day out in Andover, as well as find out about a plethora of the incredible organisations that exist within our town and beyond.
Alton and Villages Local Action for Nature
Alton and Villages Local Action for Nature (AVLAN) are a community group for those passionate about taking practical action to help the local environment. Our donation of £588 will enable them to purchase nitrate and phosphate tests and general water test strips that test pH, alkalinity, hardness and chlorine levels for up to 2 more years, helping to keep local waterways clean.
Berkshire Healthcare Charity
Berkshire Healthcare Charity are committed to supporting children and families through palliative care. Our donation of £500 will help the Children’s Palliative Care Team to provide resources to help children and their families create cherished memories, honour their loved ones, and find solace in moments of grief.
Chawton House Library
Based in Alton, Chawton House Library is a beautiful Grade II* listed historic house open to the local community to visit. The donation of £250 will support repairing the walled garden, originally created by Jane Austen, by re-planting the garden beds with new plants and seeds.
Didcot TRAIN
Didcot TRAIN offers comprehensive support through programmes and activities for young people, aiming to build confidence, improving mental health, and promoting positive life choices. Our donation of £1,000 will support TRAIN’s Free-to-Access Football Project which allows young people facing economic, social, or behavioural challenges to participate in regular football sessions at no cost.
We're always delighted when local businesses recognise the value TRAIN brings to our community, and with Newbury Building Society's Didcot branch just a stone's throw from our youth centre in the Marketplace, this is an ideal partnership!
Education Business Partnership
Education Business Partnership applied for funding to support their ‘Wellbeing Warriors’ project, designed to support, motivate, and empower primary school children. Our donation of £500 will go towards helping students explore mental health and wellbeing through sessions designed to encourage students to look after their own mental health.
National Animal Welfare Trust Berkshire (NAWT)
With the donation of £500, NAWT, a local animal rescue and rehoming centre, plan to convert one of their storage areas into a dedicated education and training room by installing electrical wiring and heating. This transformation will enable them to use the space for a variety of training and education initiatives.
We cannot thank Newbury Building Society enough for this generous donation, which will benefit not only the animals in our care but also the wider community.
The Safe
The Safe, based in Basingstoke, are a non-for-profit charity who offer help and support to families in the local area dealing with pregnancy, abortion, miscarriage and post-pregnancy crisis. Our donation of £500 will support their aim to provide free Moses basket packs for new parents in need, containing items like nappies, clothes, bottles, dummies, baby milk and blankets.
Does your organisation need support?
The next Community Support Scheme round closes on Wednesday 30 April 2025. For more information and to apply, please visit our Community Support Scheme page or pick up a paper application form in your local branch.
Emma leads the marketing and communications team and is responsible for marketing, communications, brand and public relations.
