HEARTFELT thanks have gone out to an independent panel which has helped to change the lives of millions of people through Severn Trent’s Community Fund.
Back in 2020, the water company committed to donating £10 million to projects in the region over a five-year period.
An additional £1.6m was given in further support to help our communities deal with the impact of Coronavirus.
A total of 57 community organisations in Worcestershire have been supported since the creation of the fund with a total of £716,032.66 awarded over the past five years.
The fund was initially set up to support new projects with a link to one or more of our three elements of community wellbeing – People, Place and Environment.
To help oversee the fund and review applications for funding, an independent panel was set up so customers decide where the money goes.
Lee Fletcher, Community Fund Panel Member, said: “I have loved working with Severn Trent’s Community Fund. They are doing such fantastic work within the community, and it has been a pleasure to be part of the panel for three years.”
The company has since committed to donating another £10 million of profits up to 2030. A new panel will now be welcomed in as the Community Fund transitions to the next five year period.
Ian Jelley, Chair of the Community Fund Panel, said: “I have been really impressed with what the Community Fund has done over the past five years, seeing all the organisations that have submitted applications has been very humbling, but it also shows the need for funds like this.”
The Community Fund team have sent out its thanks to every panel member who has helped the fund have a huge impact over the past five years.
Paul Evans, Community and Education Lead for Severn Trent, said: “The Community Fund was set up to benefit our customers, so it made compete sense to have our customers helping to make the decisions about where this money was awarded and all the panel members have been absolutely fantastic.
“We want to say a huge thank you to every member of the panel who has supported the fund over the past five years. Their passion for helping our customers, these projects and insight has been a huge value for making sure we are funding projects that have a huge benefit for our customers.
“Now we look to the next five years, and we look forward to working with the new panel and any future members we welcome.”
Visit stwater.co.uk/communityfund for more information.
