Ongo awards £25,000 to community groups

Ongo has awarded 14 groups their share of £25,000 as part of the 2024 Community Grants project.

The project, now in its thirteenth year, has provided vital funding to over 100 community-focused groups, totalling more than £130,000.

This year, a generous £25,000 was made available for good causes in areas that benefit Ongo tenants and the wider community.

Kerry Copson, Community Development Manager at Ongo said:“We are committed to supporting local initiatives that strengthen communities. We want to congratulate this year’s winners and look forward to witnessing the positive impact of their projects.”

The full list of winners are:

• Lindsey Lodge Hospice
• Jens Special Place
• A Platform to Talk
• Ashby Young Bowlers Club
• Little Victories FC
• North Lincolnshire Veterans Social Group
• Waste Not Want Not – Ashby
• Scunthorpe LGBTQ+ Society (Scunthorpe Pride)
• Sunflowers Children’s Action Group
• Healy Road Wildlife Centre
• Scunthorpe Steelers Wheelers Sports Club
• Lincoln Community Larder
• Mental Health FC CIC

Joanne Wright from Sunflowers Children’s Action Group said, “This grant will enable us to make a difference to the lives of children in North Lincolnshire who are contending with life-limiting conditions.

“As a voluntary organisation, we are reliant on donations that allow us to create inclusive, accessible and fun activities and events that help to reduce isolation, and which promote positive mental health. This donation will allow us to make a real difference to our children, their siblings and guardians and we are so grateful to Ongo for their support.”

Ryan Oldfield from Mental Health FC CIC said, “We currently run session in Doncaster and they have proved extremely popular and very beneficial to the people coming along, so much so that we’ve had to start a further two weekly sessions.

“We’re wanting to help as many people as possible, not only in Doncaster but nationwide, and this grant will enable us to grow.

“There are many benefits for the people attending our sessions including mental health, physical fitness, combatting loneliness, all the benefits of being outside, social connection, new friendships and more. And thanks to the grant, this will all be available once a week for the people of Scunthorpe.”

Chris Bycroft from Scunthorpe Steelers Wheelers Sports Club said, “’This grant will enable our group to reach out further and bring disability awareness to new groups of people. The cost of hiring sports hall facilities has always been our biggest outlay but this grant will help tremendously towards this. Thank you to Ongo for your support in our venture and it is truly appreciated more than words can say.”

Laura Fidell from Lindsey Lodge Hospice said, “The Lindsey Lodge roadshow is designed to take some of our services out into the community and make them accessible to people who may otherwise not be able to reach us.

“This grant will contribute to the marketing of the roadshow which is one of the biggest costs but essential to getting the word out there. It will also enable us to provide a warm, welcoming space with cakes and refreshments and potentially look at putting on further activities in the future.”

We are committed to supporting local initiatives that strengthen communities. We want to congratulate this year’s winners and look forward to witnessing the positive impact of their projects.

For more information about the Community Grants program and how to apply in the future, visit www.ongo.co.uk