LOCAL GROUPS AWARDED £7,000 FROM NEW COMMUNITY FUND

Four community groups have benefited from the first round of grants awarded from IM Properties (IMP) Peddimore Community Fund. These include Bethany Community Outreach in Erdington, the Square Peg Foundation in Sutton Coldfield, and St Mark’s Community Hub and Digikick, both based in Birmingham.

Nearly £7,000 will be shared across the organisations to help fund new and existing community projects from a choir and walking group to a lego-based therapy club and a history project to record local people’s lives and experiences.

The community fund was set up by IM Properties and is independently managed by the Heart of England Community Foundation to deliver both social and economic benefits in the region, following IMP’s selection as Birmingham City Council’s preferred development partner on Peddimore.

David Smith planning director at IM Properties said he was delighted to be able to put words into action and begin awarding grants to organisations who are best placed to reach the people most in need and understand their requirements.

“We’re supporting some great projects which will touch all corners of the community from the young to the elderly, bringing new skills to people through innovative technology initiatives from DigiKick to supporting the essential day to day needs of individuals through the Bethany Community Outreach food bank and creating a lego-based therapy group for children with additional needs.

“As a team, we’ll be keen to track the progress of the chosen projects. St Mark’s Community hub which prevents older people from becoming isolated within the community will be using the money to create a fantastic new history project to record people’s experiences in the community and is setting up a choir and walking group.”

The £270,000 Peddimore Community fund will be available over the six-year lifespan of the scheme, and in the first year, IM Properties will be looking to support up to 13 local projects. These could include community projects, social welfare, health and well-being initiatives or formal training and education programmes.

Tina Costello, Chief executive of the Heart of England Community Foundation, added: “We’re so happy to have formed a new relationship with a company like IM Properties, and it’s great to see the first round of money being given to four worthwhile organisations.

“The fact they chose to work with us is a great honour. We’re looking forward to developing our relationship with IM Properties and giving out more grants to voluntary groups in the future.”

Peddimore is a significant new employment park being created by IM Properties in Minworth, Royal Sutton Coldfield, to attract national and international logistics and manufacturing companies. If planning is approved, it will generate up to 6,500 jobs, with 3,000 from associated supply chains.

IM Properties has also partnered with four community organisations as part of its Social Value programme. These include St Basils, The Jericho Foundation, The Pioneer Group and Witton Lodge Community Association, to work together to ensure individuals and communities most in need benefit from both the social and economic value the company and its supply chain looks to deliver at Peddimore.

For more information on the fund, or to apply, please visit http://www.heartofenglandcf.co.uk/peddimore-community-fund