Telford’s 50th anniversary: Bids flood in for help with birthday events

Telford & Wrekin Council has £50,000 available in its Telford Pride @ 50 Celebration Grant, but has been swamped with applications.

In total, the value of the applications that have come in is £200,000, more than four times the amount available.

This autumn, the Telford Pride @ 50 Celebration Grant was opened to individuals and a wide range of community groups - to help organise celebration events for next year.

They could apply for up to £2,000 for their anniversary event to be funded.

To be eligible for funding, the council asked that the events must be distinct and different to those usually carried out over the course of a year and must allow the whole community to get involved.

Additionally, all events bidding for funding had to fall at least under one of the chosen themes: people and places, culture and communities, green spaces, or get active.

Applicants for the grants were also asked how much they can contribute towards their events, with the total reaching over £255,000.

The bids would need support from 2,600 volunteers.

Councillor Arnold England, cabinet member for communities, health & wellbeing, said: “The response we have had to our funding grant has been absolutely amazing, with lots of communities and organisations willing to have their own Telford 50 events.

“We want to thank everyone for their involvement and for the ideas submitted, as all these will help bring communities together, to make Telford 50 a truly unique celebration.

“With so many applications for funding, sadly we won’t be able to meet all requests to the Telford Pride @ 50 Celebration Grant,” Councillor England added.

The council will be looking at ways to work with groups and individuals to support their Telford 50 events if their funding application is unsuccessful.