Issue - decisions

In the summer round 2021 a community grant application was made from Dacorum Bangladeshi Welfare Association which has received approval at the grants panel meeting on 8 September.

The organisation completed the purchase of their own premises in 2020 and now plan to modify the building to create a multipurpose space for activities to take place. The building was formerly an NHS clinic and as such it is not conducive to holding group events. The organisation plan to remove some of the internal walls and replace them with folding partition walls to facilitate both small and larger group activities. This work will also require relocating some of the pre-existing plumbing and electrical installations. The centre has become an essential asset to the community and is used for social, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing.

They have already expanded their facilities to include a games room and are now looking for funding that will help them invest in the DBWA Centre and increase the range of activities they can offer. Their application included funding requests for equipment once the multipurpose room has been created, however the grants panel felt it appropriate to only fund the internal works at this time.

Total project cost £12,687

Funding:

£9,000 DBC grant

£515 raised from fundraising activities

This leaves a shortfall of £3172 for equipment purchases. This will not affect the organisation’s ability to create the multipurpose space as they will be able to fundraise and apply for other grants in the future for this.

Background

The Dacorum Bangladeshi Welfare Association (DBWA), based in Hemel Hempstead, was formed in 2005 with the primary aim of supporting the growing Bangladeshi community in the town. They are a non-profit organisation and registered charity who have actively sought to bring together the community providing regular organised activities to cater for all genders and age groups. These activities include classes for children and adults (men and women), congregational prayers, annual fun days and tuition classes primarily focussed on English and Maths. The success and maturity of the organisation means that focus of the organisation is no longer limited to solely the Bangladeshi community. They welcome people from all backgrounds and there is now a significant number of people attending classes and events that are from diverse backgrounds.

The proposed improvements to the building will improve the flexibility of the building’s internal space to allow a wide range of groups to meet. They are proposing to remove some of the internal walls to turn small office spaces into a larger multipurpose room and to include folding partition walls to aid with the flexibility of the space.

The application was assessed through the Community Grant Scheme, which is specifically set up to support Community, Voluntary, Arts and Sporting groups that benefit the residents of Dacorum.  There are three rounds of Community Grant funding per financial year.  Charities are invited to apply for funding and the applications are assessed by a panel of officers, who will be looking at how well it meets the criteria of the fund; whether the project supports the Councils objectives and how it supports the following five ways to well-being: be active, take notice, learn, give and connect.