Community Fund Spreads Christmas Cheer

We Love Lichfield, part of the Community Foundation, awarded £40,000 across 27 voluntary groups at it’s Christmas grant giveaway in the presence of Ian Dudson, the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire and President of the Community Foundation.

The community fund, also celebrated a milestone of its own. Since We Love Lichfield started over ten years ago it has distributed just over £375,000 to just shy of 200 different groups.

Patron of We Love Lichfield, Simon Price said, “This time, we received the highest number of applications ever and I delighted we were able to help so many organisations, especially at Christmas. I’m humbled by the work volunteers do and the number of people who benefit for their work.

“Thank you to The Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Ian Dudson, for attending and seeing the work we do and thank you to everyone, friends, supporters, and most of all the volunteers across the district who simply do an amazing job, giving their time up for others.”

Over 100 people were at The George Hotel to celebrate the local voluntary sector. Pupils from Lichfield Cathedral School welcomed everyone and created the perfect Christmas atmosphere by singing carols. There were speeches by supporters and recipients before the event finished with the Lord-Lieutenant on behalf of We Love Lichfield present Lichfield District Council with the 2023 Community Champion Award for co-ordinating and supporting numerous charity and voluntary groups and events throughout the year and for raising funds for the sector via it’s Community Lottery.

Simon Price said, “Our grant presentations are also ‘get togethers’. We want to connect everyone together, to help each other as we have never needed it so much as we do now. For example, media students from South Staffordshire College used the event as a part of their work experience programme; to test their skills and learn how to capture live events. These students are our future workforce, our future volunteers and I am delighted this group was able to learn from our event.”

Community groups who received funding include: Lichfield Society of Artists, COGS, Lichfield Arts, Whittington Community Computer Group, 7th St Chads (Lichfield) Guides, Burntwood Family History Group, Lichfield and District Talking News, Burntwood Memorial Hall Community Association, 1st Stonnall Scout Group, Burntwood Gardening Guild, Phoenix Counselling Service, Mindfulness, Awareness & Martial Arts (MAMA), Whittington & Fisherwick Good Neighbour Scheme, Burntwood Be a Friend, Friends of Shenstone Tower, Stonnall Community Centre, PCC of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Chasetown, Lichfield Ladies and Mens Probus Club, Army Welfare Services Community Support, Lichfield Waterworks Trust, Target Sport Burntwood (TSB), Pathway Project, Whittington & Fisherwick Fairtrade, Whittington & Fisherwick Parish Council, The Ridwares Bowling Club, Longdon Womens Institute, Whittington Craft Club.

During the event local businesses handed over donations including David Lloyd Lichfield, Breslins Accountants, Richard Winterton Auctioneers.  A donation was also received from Janet Eagland on behalf of the Roger Hinton Fund, which is also managed by the Community Foundation. The Lichfield Garrick announced that they are raising money for We Love Lichfield during its panto season.

Simon Price said, “We Love Lichfield wouldn’t exist if it didn’t have some amazing supporters. I’d like to thank my fellow fund members who work in their own time throughout the year, to the amazing businesses who support us, and finally to The George Hotel for allowing us to use their hotel every year.”