Image demonstrating Council cash for Castle Morpeth community groups

Council cash for Castle Morpeth community groups

Community groups in Castle Morpeth have been recognised for the work they do in their local community. 

The groups were recently awarded a grant from the Community Chest, run by Northumberland County Council, and were presented with a certificate at their local area council meeting at County Hall.

The scheme awards grants of up to £5,000 to support community groups and organisations county-wide. The funding can help with costs by issuing 75% of the total amount required, towards equipment for community group activities and sports, venue refurbishments, transport facilities and much more.

More than 1,500 projects have benefited from £2.8 million in grants since 2009, which has contributed or helped towards £20 million worth of projects within Northumberland. 

The Pegswood Community Beekeeping Club received a grant of £3,000 to build a portable cabin to use as a classroom. 

Fenwick Rice, Manager of the club, sees the grant not only benefiting the beekeeping club but other groups and organisations.

He said: “We want to gel all the community groups so that we can all join together.

“We intend to fetch not only the beekeepers into this - we want gardeners, we want people who are interested in photography, we’re going to set up a bird club within there, so it’s going to be a full community event.”

Their classroom was a victim to arson last April, before being opened to the community but that hasn’t dampened their determination or community spirit.

Fenwick added: “Unfortunately, we had an arson attack on the cabin but we won’t be put off by this malicious act.

“Without this grant it would not have happened. We have moved forward, and we’re making big strides into building this group for everyone, not just for the Pegswood community but the whole of Northumberland.”

Other community groups in attendance included; Morpeth Group Riding for the Disabled Association, Barnesbury Cycling Club, Ponteland Community Partnership, Collingwood School & Media Arts College, Morpeth Amateur Runners Association, Coquet Shorebase Trust, and The Morpeth Antiquarian Society.

Cllr Nick Oliver, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services at Northumberland County Council, said: “The Community Chest Fund is a fantastic opportunity for local community groups and organisations to enhance their services which will ultimately benefit the local community. 

“The scheme contributes to achieving our ambition for Northumberland, which is to support voluntary and community groups and organisations to deliver activities to maintain and create sustainable communities.”


For more information about the Community Chest Scheme click here. or email: communitychest@northumberland.gov.uk
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