A Walsall community group has received a £4,000 grant from Walsall Business Support to help fund free activity sessions for people across Walsall.
Mossley Community Connections is a new non-profit organisation that has been set up by the people of Mossley to benefit residents of Walsall. It will provide a range of services designed to promote community engagement and boost people’s wellbeing, skills and confidence. These include free activity sessions, social events and educational programmes.
The team will work closely with local businesses, community organisations and government agencies to identify local needs and help with effective solutions. The organisation will also signpost people to other services that may be able to help them.
Mossley Community Connections will be using the grant from Walsall Business Support to help promote its services and groups as well as to fund the running of activity sessions, which include arts and crafts, British Sign Language, qigong and Zumba.
Mossley Community Connections chair Sarah Roberts commented: “Mossley Community Connections has been set up to bring the local community together and promote social inclusion. By helping to empower residents, we are working to build a stronger and more resilient community.
“This grant has enabled us to create marketing materials to raise awareness of our free activity sessions and to fund room hire and materials for them. We want to make all our sessions accessible to as many people as possible, so all of them will be deaf aware and disability friendly. They are open to everyone, whatever their ability.
“Our activity sessions and services are aimed at boosting wellbeing, skills and confidence, which we hope in the long term will support people in finding employment.”
Formed by leading local business figures to distribute funds collected from the legacy of Walsall Chamber of Commerce, Walsall Business Support provides grants to applicants who want funding for projects to enhance business life in the borough.
Councillor John Murray, chairman of Walsall Business Support, said: “We are very pleased to be able to award Mossley Community Connections a grant that will go towards supporting many local people in Walsall.
“Helping people to build up their confidence, skills and interpersonal relationships is essential if we want them to contribute to the community.
“A well-connected and engaged community will not only benefit people’s personal wellbeing but also make Walsall a better place for residents, visitors and local businesses.”
Walsall Business Support can provide grants and a free training needs analysis to businesses looking to generate growth, create employment or shape training opportunities for the borough of Walsall. Using an online application form on the WBS website, bids for financial support can be submitted by businesses needing investment in a new project or a company wanting to improve skills.
