£200,000 available for community projects

Alderley Edge Institute Trust currently has about £200,000 available for the benefit of good causes in the area.

The Trust was established in 2003 following the sale of the Alderley Edge Village Institute for redevelopment, the site is now occupied by the library and flats.

The building was sold for £600,000 and this sum, together with the balance of about £50,000 which was held by former Trustees, formed the trust fund of the new Alderley Edge Institute Trust.

It exists "to promote such general charitable purposes for the benefit of the inhabitants of the area of benefit as the Trustees shall think fit."

During the past eleven years the Trust has made grants totalling £417,000, mainly to community groups and organisations within the Trust's designated Area of Benefit - which includes the parishes of Alderley Edge, Nether Alderley, Over Alderley, Chorley and Great Warford.

In 2013 the Trust received eight new applications for grant assistance. As a result they awarded £700 to The Pleyel Ensemble towards the cost of their series of concerts, £2144 to the Alderley Scout Troop for the purchase of new archery equipment and £12,000 was given to Nether Alderley Primary School towards the cost of new iPads and software licences.

The Alderley Edge Orchestra received £350 towards their series of concerts and Alderley United Football Club received £5000.

Three applications were unsuccessful because one applicant, or activity for which funding was sought, was outside the Area of Benefit, the second was declined on the basis that the Trust had already granted monies towards its cost on two separate occasions and the third organisation was felt to have enough funds available to complete their activities without grant assistance.

Income from investments in 2013 was £21,000 and the market value of the investments at 31 December 2013 was £827,320.

In previous years local schools and churches have received funding from the Trust for building works, Alderley and District Scout Council received a grant towards the repairs and refurbishment of the Scout Hall (£50,000) and Over Alderley Reading Room received a contribution to building repairs and refurbishment (£50,000).

Funds were also granted to Alderley Edge Parish Plan Group (£1,250), Alderley History Group for video and PA equipment (£1,500), Groundwork Cheshire for the redevelopment of the Beech Road Play Area (£20,000) the David Lewis Centre received money for their sensory play area and an outdoor classroom (£16,275) and two local football teams received money for new kits and equipment.

Additionally, a few individual grants have been made to assist with those felt to be in severe financial need.

Roger Williams, Chairman of the Alderley Edge Village Institute, said "The Trust's policy from the outset was to maintain as far as is possible to maintain the initial investment and make grants from the annual interest. To date this has worked very well. Our current allocatable balance is approximately £200,000.

"Over the years institutions such as tthe David Lewis Centre, The Over Alderley Reading Rooms, The cricket and hockey club are recipients of our larger grants. Most grants, however, are of a smaller nature, thus abling us to serve wider aspects of our community."

The nine trustees meet on a quarterly basis and welcome well documented cases for consideration from local organisations and groups operating within their designated area. Occasionally, they invite the applicant to present their case in person during one of their meetings.

Anyone wishing to apply can obtain an application form and more information by emailing Ashley Comiskey Dawson, the secretary to the Institute Trust, or calling him on 01625 582150.

Some further details and the annual submissions made to the Charity Commission are accessible on its website by searching for the Registered Charity Number 241335. As the Trust's annual income is less than £25,000 it is not required by the Charity Commission to submit and publish the annual accounts.

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Alderley Edge Institute Trust