Stone Town Council has awarded grants worth more than £1,300 to community groups in its latest funding offer.
Christ Church First School’s Parent, Teacher, Friends Association (PTFA) and Stone Scout and Guide Band will each receive £500, while Stone Community Speed Watch Group’s request for £388.56 also proved successful.
Pension Reinvention, which wanted to fund the expansion of financial literacy programmes in Stone, was not successful in its grant bid for £1,500, however, because it requested more than £500. Diamond Families, which asked for £500 to purchase supplies for children to create an allotment area and greenhouse, was turned down because it is not Stone-based, and the grant will not predominantly benefit town residents.
Christ Church First School’s PTFA applied for funding to insulate the school’s “happiness hub”, a small wooden building which offers a quiet space away from classrooms to support pupils’ mental health. The application form stated:
“The school has a trained ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) for pupils who feel they need somebody to talk to about things that may be troubling them.
“The ELSA is qualified to deliver a range of support and can also offer drawing and talking therapy and they operate from the school’s Happiness Hub. Temperature control is a challenge in this building, it is very warm in the summer and very cold in the winter, which is not helpful in providing a comfortable environment for the children to get the maximum benefits from using the space.”
Councillor Jill Hood said she would support the funding request at the town council’s latest meeting. But she added:
“There will be a number of residents asking why we are giving public money to a school to enhance a building – albeit only a wooden building.
“It does a very essential service for the children. But we ought to be careful when giving these grants to schools because it is almost a double taxation.”
Councillor James Battrick said:
“Anything that would improve young people’s mental health and wellbeing should be applauded.”
Councillors were told that the rules of the grant scheme prevented funds from being given to schools for anything they were required to do as part of the core curriculum. However, grants could be allowed for optional activities.
Councillor Hood also backed the Stone Scout and Guide Band’s request for funds towards the ongoing maintenance of their instruments. She said:
“They put their heart and soul into it and do so much for the area.
“They are all ages, from very small children to 20-30-year olds and they gel well together. They are a marvellous organisation and they don’t just help in Stone.”
Stone’s Community Speed Watch Group applied for £388.56 towards the installation of signs on 12 entry roads into the town to warn motorists that volunteers may be present and that speed limits should be adhered to. Their application form stated:
“This will also eliminate the need for the CSW group to display the temporary signs near the zone where the volunteers are operating.
“If the experience of other CSW groups in the county is replicated, the number of vehicles logged as speeding will increase, producing more warning letters from Staffs Police and causing more drivers to be made aware that they are speeding on our roads. This letter often has a positive effect in itself and changes drivers’ behaviour for the better.
“Several such letters for repeat offenders will result in a serious legal sanction. In our opinion, being without the temporary signs gives the volunteers a clearer indication of drivers’ normal habits in the 30mph zone.”
Councillor Robert Townsend said:
“We know these volunteers do a tremendous amount of work and they put in a great effort.
When the application came in I did id have some issues about more signage going up around Stone and whether it would be as effective as temporary signage, but this appears to be the tactic of this organisation.”
With Councillor Rob Kenney adding:
“Even if one sign saves one life it is money well spent.”
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