KCOM reveals community grant worthy winners

Sean Royce, KCOM’s managing director, said: “I’m delighted that the public have picked three such deserving causes to receive a community grant. I hope the grants will help to make a real difference in their local Hull and East Riding communities and I wish them every success for the future.

“This is the first time we’ve opened the voting process to the public and it’s been a tremendous success with more than 1,600 votes being cast for the final shortlist of six.

“I’d like to thank everyone who took part either by applying for a grant or by voting and remember, if your application didn’t quite make it this time, our next round of quarterly grants will be open again soon.”

The Special Stars Foundation said it will use its grant to fund creative events that help support young people with disabilities in Hull.

Charity manager Natalie Barnes, said: “We are thrilled to be awarded the community grant by KCOM and very thankful to everyone that took the time to vote.

“The funding will enable us to run a variety of inclusive craft sessions for people affected by disability.”

The foundation runs art sessions three times a week from its Hull city centre premises aimed at reducing social isolation for people with disabilities.

Alison Ashton, of the Friends of Westcott group, said the east Hull primary school it supports would use its grant to buy new sets of guided reading books for Key Stage 1 pupils.

She said: “We were ecstatic after being shortlisted by the KCOM community team that the public got behind us in the vote, making us successful in securing a grant.

“The money will enable us to purchase books for children which are used for guided reading at school and at home.”

The third group to benefit from the grants is Bundles of Joy, which helps support disadvantaged families in need. The group will use its grant to buy 18 new cot bundles of essential equipment for babies’ health and wellbeing.

Samantha Watson, Bundles of Joy fundraising co-ordinator, said: “We’re so grateful and excited to receive the community funding from KCOM. It means we can now buy essential items for the families in our community who really need them.” 

For more information about KCOM’s Community Grants programme click here.