New Homes Bonus - NewStarts, youth hub and rugby club big winners as Bromsgrove Council splashes the cash - The Bromsgrove Standard

New Homes Bonus - NewStarts, youth hub and rugby club big winners as Bromsgrove Council splashes the cash

Bromsgrove Editorial 17th Sep, 2020 Updated: 17th Sep, 2020   0

KEY PROJECTS across the district will benefit from almost £144,000 after Bromsgrove District Council splashed its New Homes Bonus cash.

There is almost £135,000 shared among 13 main bids and a further 9k split between  six smaller projects.

Among the big winners are NewStarts which receives £28k and Bromsgrove Youth and Community Hub and the town’s rugby club which get £20k each.

NewStarts is using the funding for ‘Breaking Bread, Building Communities’ which will see people get together to share meals and their stories.




The cash will go towards employing one or two people to get the scheme up and running.

Marion Kenyon from NewStarts said: “We are absolutely ecstatic – we have seen so much good community spirit during the Covid-19 lockdown and this will help it continue.


“By hearing each other’s stories, barriers will be broken down between people of different ages and backgrounds.

“I have seen similar schemes operating in other areas and they have worked really well – we want people to come together and build the communities they want to live in.”

Get-togethers will be held in ‘safe spaces’ or virtually.

NewStarts has provided in excess of 100,000 meals during the pandemic for those who needed them.

The money going to the Youth and Community Hub will ensure it continues the good work it has been doing since its launch in July 2018.

Rev Paul Lewis from Bromsgrove Baptist Church, where the hub is based, said: “It will enable us to meet the needs of young people across the district following the lockdown.”

Over the past few months support has been maintained online and 90 wellbeing packs, containing treats and activities, have been delivered to Bromsgrove’s youth community.

“We are delighted with the funding and want to say a big thank you to the council and everyone who has supported the hub so far.

“We still have a long way to go and we cannot wait to reopen properly, when it is safe to do so.”

And Bromsgrove Rugby Club will use its £20k to extend and refurbish its changing rooms.

Jason Woodbine, Chairman of Bromsgrove RFC, said: “The club is delighted with being awarded the New Homes Bonus Application which will enable the much needed extension and upgrade of the changing room facility

“With the increase in local housing developments we have seen growth in both the Mini and Junior Section, Senior men and significant interest in Women’s Rugby.

“The new changing and showering facilities will include two additional self-contained changing rooms, able to accommodate Women’s Rugby and Male sessions at the same time, increasing community cohesion and inter-generational activity, with another popular adaption of rugby currently being walking rugby for the over 50s.

“The funding future proofs our facility to meet the increased demands for usage as new developments planned in the Bromsgrove District Housing Plan evolve

“Our sincere thanks go to those involved in awarding the club this funding and we look forward to commencing the works.”

Other recipients include Catshill Working Men’s Club which has £12k to replace its heating system, Catshill Village Hall gets £5k to insulate the building and St Michael and All Angel’s Church in Stoke Prior will use its £5k to restore the lych gate on John Corbett Way.

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