Serco urges Canterbury charities to apply for £30,000 waste collection funding

Canterbury City Council’s environmental service partner, Serco is welcoming new applications from local charities, community or voluntary groups for its Waste Collection Guarantee (WCG) Fund. Organisations have until midnight on Sunday 18 October to apply for a share of the total £30,000 on offer over the next two years.

Serco commits £15,000 each year into the WCG Fund, sharing the money with three good causes that benefit the local communities of Canterbury district. Each of the selected organisations will receive a guaranteed £5,000 a year for the next two years to deliver community projects or other charitable activities.

Organisations can apply for a share of the funding by completing a simple online form detailing the positive impact their activity or project can make to the local community. This could be anything from outreach work with disadvantaged individuals through to addressing a health problem, protecting animal welfare or redeveloping a community space. The deadline for submissions is midnight on Sunday 18 October.

The three successful organisations will be chosen by a panel of senior Council and Serco representatives later this year. This decision will be based on meeting the Fund’s criteria and the anticipated benefits of the activity or project to Canterbury district.

Serco first launched the WGC Fund in November 2013 and the current beneficiaries are Umbrella Centre for Herne Bay, Whitstable Umbrella Community Centre and Porchlight. Porchlight has used their funding to support its ‘Brighter Futures Activities Programme’ for vulnerable children and young people, families and children at risk of poverty and/or social exclusion in Whitstable, as well as people experiencing mental health and/or associated learning disabilities in Herne Bay and surrounding areas.

Jane Redman, Director of Fundraising & Communications for Porchlight, said:

“Serco’s donation of £10,000 to Porchlight’s Brighter Futures Activity Fund has transformed the lives of hundreds of disadvantaged young people throughout the Canterbury district; through the chance to take part in many different activities they have gained new friendships and experiences, widened their horizons and developed new life skills. We are so grateful to Serco for helping the young people we support to experience a brighter future.”

Tim Guile, Partnership Director for Serco, added:

“The Waste Collection Guarantee Fund is Serco’s way of demonstrating our commitment to the residents of Canterbury. We very much see ourselves as part of the communities we serve and therefore want to support local good causes to make a positive difference. We urge eligible charities, voluntary and community groups to apply for this next round of funding.”

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