'Lions Den' Community Grant scheme 

Watch this space for the next event. 

Reading Lions Club reaches out to small local community groups and small local charities in the Reading area to offer financial support. Many local community groups do not have access to grant funding or the manpower / resources to invest in significant fundraising and yet they continue to provide a valued service to our community even during these challenging times.  

Through our own fundraising events we set aside a sum of money to distribute in small community grants, each of up to £750.00 to support local community projects.

Each successful group must be able to demonstrate how the grant benefits the local community and mirrors our own objectives which is to 'promote the health and wellbeing of the Reading community by improving the local environment, supporting our youth and helping individuals in times of need'. Any grant awarded must be used for a specific project and not be used for general day to day running costs.

A big thank you to our following sponsors for your support 

 

Since our very first 'Lions Den' back in 2017 we have distributed £52,389.00 in grants to 85 local community groups!  

The following are just some of the different community projects supported by our 'Lions Den' programme:

• A local Residents Association to support its Community Café, which provides affordable drinks and snacks and a place of welcome to the local community. It is hoped our grant will enable the group to extend its services to offer games and entertainment sessions for the older community.
• A local charity providing free 'care bags' to patients undergoing breast cancer treatment.
• A local charity who provides period boxes so that people in Reading can look after their menstrual health.
• A grant to fund tabletop sports games and equipment at a newly set up Parish Youth Group. The group is involved in a wider discussion around combatting knife crime, in the wake of Olly Stephens tragic murder. In partnership with other likeminded groups their aim is to provide safe spaces for young people where they can find mentors, role models, and access mental health support.
• A grant to a charity that are supporting children and young people in Berkshire, who have been bereaved or are living in a home where someone has a life-limiting condition.
• Support for a charity that assists 0–5-year-old children with special educational needs and disabilities. Our grant will fund 22 of their Reading Centre children to go to the pantomime at the Hexagon. This will give the children the opportunity to access a fun Christmas activity with suitable support.
• We are supporting a local community group that has adopted a park in Reading. The objective of this community group is to bring their residents together for activities that conserve, protect, or improve the character of the area and to promote activities that reduce isolation and build community spirit.
• We are helping a local charity who offer regular hot meals, and drinks to adults who are experiencing financial hardship and homelessness. Every year the adults who attend are offered a free day trip to the seaside with a packed lunch and fish and chips. We are helping to sponsor the day trip.
• We gave a grant to a small local community group, completely managed by volunteers, all committed to improving the environment in Caversham and nearby areas by eliminating litter and fly tipping and improving public spaces.
• A group run by autistic people for autistic people, creating a safe social network for those with autism. Our grant will fund a new lawnmower for the gardening group. We also understand the group would benefit from a second-hand laptop computer, so that its members can get online, whilst in the office. We were able to access a recycling scheme run by the Fleet Lions Club and present the group with a fully recommissioned laptop.
• We gave a grant to a local school to provide the school children with different fruits, for one term, and link this to a learning project to teach the children about healthy eating.
• We supported a special interest group for autistic children, young people and adults which provides train play sessions, days out at railway attractions, sibling activities & parent information sessions. They are raising funds for a new van.
• We sponsored a local school PTA group with a grant for playground friendship benches at a local school.

The recipients were absolutely thrilled with our support and the following are just some of the reactions we received:

'That's absolutely fantastic news. Our PTA were blown away that we've been successful in our application'

'We are overwhelmed with joy and satisfaction'

'Thank you so much for the grant. We are honoured to have been chosen'

'This is fantastic news, thank you so much! We are delighted, our guests will be so pleased'

We are delighted to have touched so many local lives with our Lions Den community grant project and were very impressed with all the work being done locally in support of the people of Reading.  

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