£1,200 windfall for Peasedown St John Residents’ Association

Peasedown St John Residents’ Association is celebrating this month after being awarded two grants, totalling more than £1,200.

The Association, which runs Drop-In support sessions for those looking for work and people who need to access their Universal Credit application online, has been organising community events for four years.

Secretary Mandy Clarke said: “A group of us got together in 2013 because we wanted to make a difference in our community. Thanks to the support of local businesses, B&NES Council and a number of charitable groups we’ve raised over £4,000 – all of which has been spent on providing activities for people who wouldn’t have had such opportunities otherwise.”

As well as a Wednesday ‘Drop-In’ Advice service, the group runs a monthly ‘Big Breakfast’, seasonal events at Easter and Christmas, and coordinates initiatives with Curo, Party in the Park and the village’s B&NES Councillors, Karen Walker and Sarah Bevan.

Mandy added: “This year we wanted to especially focus on raising awareness of our services, and helping residents to communicate with others using the internet.”

The Residents Association Funding Appeal led to a £800 grant from Quartet, and a £420 grant from the Party in the Park Grant Fund. Between both organisations they are funding new notice boards and wifi for two years at St John’s Community Room – where the association hold their meetings.

Party in the Park Secretary, Helen Thorn, said: “We were extremely happy to support the Residents’ Association with their innovative ‘Wifi for the Community’ project. Our funding, along with the very generous grant from Quartet, means St John’s Community Room now has free wifi for the next two years. Anyone who drops into the centre doesn’t have to pay a penny to use the internet. It’s great that these two grants are going directly towards paying for villagers to have free wifi so they can access job opportunities online and contact friends and family oversees.”

For more information about Peasedown St John Residents’ Association email psjresidentassoc@yahoo.co.uk.

Their Weekly Drop In Sessions are held every Wednesday during term-time, 1pm – 3pm at St John’s Close Community Room, St John’s Close, Albert Avenue, BA2 8JE. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided for free, along with a range of newspapers and TV news channels to watch.