The winning bids, as decided by the attending community groups were:

R.I.S.E £2,000

R.I.S.E is a local charity run by Lou Evans, which supports bereaved children and those who have become carers at primary school age. The money will be used to provide much needed day trips, as well as counselling sessions for the children.

WOODVALE & AINSDALE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION £2,500

WACA is in the heart of the community, providing various activities across all age groups. This includes outreach youth work to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the Woodvale area, where it regularly occurs. The money will be used for diversionary activities during the summer holidays, over a four-week period, which will help reduce crime and ASB.

AINSDALE CIVIC SOCIETY £2000

Ainsdale Civic Society will use the money to provide a defibrillator and bleed packs at Ainsdale beach gateway. Due to the large amount of visitors to the beach each summer, this is essential life saving equipment that has been sought after by the Ainsdale community. 

PLACE2B £2000

‘Place To Be’ is an affordable food market and café set up at St John Stone Church Hall in Woodvale each Wednesday. They rely on shops donating food that is close to its sell-by date and then sell it to families at very affordable prices. The café is also a meeting place for people, who may otherwise be alone, to spend time with others. The money will go towards the cost of running the food market and help extend the outreach work they do to involve more members of the community.

MECYCLE £2,500

‘MeCycle’ is run by ‘Autism Initiative,’ who employ and support autistic people. They also run courses in bicycle maintenance involving the staff and the wider community, as well as other activities and groups including chess clubs for anyone to get involved. The money will enable ‘MeCycle’ to provide four additional placements.

SOUTHPORT AREA SCHOOLS WORKER TRUST (SASWT) £1,970

SASWT works with young people providing support and guidance in schools and youth clubs. The money will be used to buy equipment for Impact Youth Club at Ainsdale Methodist Church, where they meet each Wednesday evening during term time and provide food and drink to the young people.

FRIENDS OF AINSDALE ST JOHN’S PRIMARY SCHOOL PTA £2,500

The parent’s association have been trying to redevelop land at the back of the school which is overgrown, dangerous and has been target of ASB. The funding will improve the land, making it safe for the children to use to grow vegetables, flowers and make bug hotels where they will learn about habitats and wildlife. They hope to see the produce grown used in the Ainsdale show in the summer and the volunteers for ‘Ainsdale in Bloom’ planting their bulbs in the village.

CREATION GARDEN £2,500

Volunteers from ‘Connect Youth’ are redeveloping an area at the back of Ainsdale village church and will use the money to buy furniture and planters and install lighting so it can be used all year round. It is intended that the area should be used by young people and families to enjoy and reflect.

FRIENDS OF AINSDALE VILLAGE PARK £2,500

Friends of Ainsdale Village park are volunteers who look after the park area. They will use the money to improve the disabled access so more families can enjoy the park, making it a more enjoyable and inclusive place for all.

SHORESIDE PRIMARY SCHOOL PTA £2,500

The children at Shoreside Primary School have been raising money to have an outdoor classroom made at the school as they have very little outdoor space. The money will ensure the project is complete over the summer holidays, making September 2024 the most exciting term yet! The children have expressed that they learn best outside in the fresh air and look forward to taking care of their new surroundings.

 

Five groups were unsuccessful and each received £200, as well as tickets to a football match, kindly donated by Southport F.C. Community Foundation.