Prestwich groups win Parklife funding for local causes

Community groups across Prestwich have been granted funding from the Parklife concerts to organise activities across the town.

Some 21 groups won money from the Parklife Community Fund and a further nine received funding for their projects from the Parklife micro grants.

A ‘thank you’ event was held at the Phoenix Centre in Prestwich this week where each group spoke about their upcoming projects and how the Parklife money will be spent.

Councillor Richard Gold, cabinet member for finance and communities, said: “It’s only right that local groups and projects should benefit from the extra investment and visitors that Parklife brings. Since 2016, when Cllr Alan Quinn – cabinet member for the environment - asked the organisers to set up the Parklife Community Fund, more than £154,000 has been given to local Prestwich community groups in grants.

“All these organisations carry out tremendous work to make Prestwich a great place to live.”

Community Fund – total of £22,277 awarded to:

• 8th Prestwich Scouts - Camping equipment for scout camp
• Albert Avenue Allotments - Development of wildlife friendly pond
• C Teen Manchester - to provide a safe space for teens utilising green spaces
• Friends of Barnfield Park - new pathways to the park to stop current flooding
• Friends of Gardner Mount - to hold a 'picnic in the park' event and to also purchase bulbs and flower seeds
• Friends of Prestwich Forest Park - to install two new wooden sculptures at Prestwich Clough
• JCFT - to run a face-to-face community clinic and online drop-in sessions to offer support to the community
• Jewel - to provide workshops and online training to the local community
• Jigsaw - to provide 'have a go' sessions to prevent loneliness and social isolation
• Langley Allotments - to purchase a replacement gate and install a side gate for pedestrians
• Maccabi - to organise a family fun day
• Phoenix Centre - to build the Phoenix eco warrior group with workshops to help the children look after the community green spaces
• Prestwich Arts Festival - connecting communities through creative endeavour at the festival
• Prestwich Carnival - free fun activities for the community at Prestwich Carnival
• Prestwich Clough Day - to help fund the free community event
• Prestwich Cricket, Tennis and Bowling club - to purchase a smart energy cell unit to reduce carbon footprint
• Prestwich Pride - activities, DJ hire and room hire for Prestwich Pride 2023, a free event within Prestwich to bring together the LGBTQ+ community
• St Mary's Churchyard action group - to remove two diseased trees and provide two carvings in their place
• St Margaret's Primary school - to provide a safe place and reflection with new outdoor play environment
• Warwick Street Green - to create a community garden

Micro Grants – total of £6,215 awarded to:

• 22nd Prestwich Scouts - Outdoor space
• Highfield Road - Development of space with creative living
• Prestwich Rooted - Nature programme
• Bailey Street Bowling - Renovation
• Bury Rd Projects - Bury Rd project
• Prestwich Together - Annual Event
• Simister Village allotments - Community engagement
• Prestwich Cinema - Screening
• South Clough allotments - Link in with local schools