Community groups’ windfall opportunity

Shanks Group, the lead contractors for the new Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham waste treatment facility at Manvers are launching a new fund to provide support to community projects.

The Shanks Corporate Social Responsibility Fund has been developed to directly benefit community projects and groups in the area around the new facility at Bolton Road, Manvers.

Groups can apply for up to £3,000 per year for projects within a 3.5-kilometre radius of the site and up to £1,000 for locations outside that distance but still within Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham council areas.

They can also apply for Shanks' volunteer time for help to support their projects.

Improvement projects which might be eligible for support could include:

Open spaces or public areas and nature reserves

Community orchards, centres or village halls

Play areas and adventure playgrounds

Multi use sports or games areas

Environmental, educational, community or well-being opportunities for community groups

Shanks’ contracts director Colin Fletcher said: “The CSR fund and associated volunteer hours offer a helping hand to our local communities and can really make a difference to the projects which mean most to them.

“Now that we have started accepting waste into our facility, it is important to us that we continue to show our commitment to being a good neighbour by supporting these local community projects.

“We look forward to seeing the first applications coming through and to working with the local community every step of the way.”

Applications will be invited and assessed four times a year depending on whether groups are applying for volunteer hours support or funding or both. Full details of dates, funding criteria and application guidance is available via the BDR website at www.bdronline.co.uk.

To talk about a potential project or have questions about the fund, contact community education liaison officer, Abi Cox on [email protected] or 01709 761001 then choose option 2.

To apply online to the Shanks Corporate Social Responsibility Fund, visit https://surveymonkey.com/s/PZH3YQX.