Each year charities and community groups within a six-mile radius of Rye Town Hall can apply for grants of up to £2,000 from the Rye Fund, an endowment fund established in 2008 from which £10,000 is distributed annually.
On January 29 at a ceremony in the town hall, representatives of the ten groups who were awarded grants, were presented with certificates by mayor Andy Stuart who thanked “the wonderful people doing wonderful things for the people of Rye.”
The chair of the Rye Fund panel, Rosemarie Roberts, welcomed representatives of the organisations receiving the awards, members of the panel, the Sussex Community Foundation, and founders and members of the steering group of the fund.
Peter Cosstick of the Winchelsea Corporation, which is responsible for maintaining Winchelsea’s three ancient stone gates, the Court Hall and the museum, received money for the renovation of the toilets in the Court Hall which is used for meetings, events and exhibitions.
Friends Altogether in Rother (FAiR), a befriending group for older residents, have regular tea and cake events in Tilling Green. Jan Crook, the befriending co-ordinator accepted the award and explained that the money was to be used to extend their activities.
The award for Icklesham Memorial Hall Trust was accepted by Trish Buxton who said that the funds will go towards staff to continue to develop events, both educational and entertaining, for local residents.
Rye Cricket Club is taking on the responsibility, from Rother District Council, of the maintenance of the Cricket Salts and Martin Blincow said that the grant will go towards the purchase of loam and seeds.
Community Compost Solutions CIC collects coffee grinds, garden waste and organic waste for creating compost, and educates and supports businesses, community organisations, schools and residences. Graham Ellis received the grant which will be used for admin costs and to organise volunteers.
Accepting the award for Rye and District Community Transport’s running and maintenance costs, Pat Hughes explained how important the buses are to the local people. “We are at the heart of the community, the glue that holds the community together. The people who use the bus help and support and celebrate one another.”
Rye Youth Zone CIC was awarded money for their three-month pilot scheme with a youth club starting at Tilling Green Community Centre before moving to the boys’ club in Mermaid Street. Sophie Thorpe and Caroline Drummond said that the money will go towards two youth workers and the cost of obtaining DBS checks for volunteers.
Rye Recreation and Wellbeing CIO’s award, collected by Dan Lynn, is to be used as a contribution to a year’s running costs. It will help in the transition from Rother and Freedom Leisure control and contribute to making the leisure centre and pool sustainable.
Donna Lake, who was representing Dan Lake, collected the award for the Tilling Green Residents Association which is to be used towards three notice boards and a welcome sign to be put up around the Tilling Green estate to keep local people informed and “to reinvigorate a sense of community”.
Winchelsea New Hall will use the money to renovate their gents’ toilets which have not been updated since 1926. Their award was collected by Ali Casey who explained that this refurbishment was “long overdue, the toilets were uninsulated and so were cold with damp and mould.”
The Rye Fund welcomes donations to help grown the fund. Applications for this year’s grants open in August.
Image Credits: Graham Ellis , Juliet Duff .
What a shame the Rye fund couldn’t have contributed to erecting the Rye town sign back on the approach to Rye,on Rye hill that has been missing for ages,or are we now just a suburb of playden.
What amazing help The Rye Fund gives to those ten organizations who so richly deserve the grants given.
There’s an application process. Easily visible to folk with keyboards via the magic of Google. Sigh. Anyway, well done Rye Fund and congratulations to the recipients.