Biffaward reaches 100 million funding milestone

The announcement came at the tenth annual Biffaward Awards ceremony on board HMS Belfast on October 9, in which twenty projects which had received funding competed for special recognition for their efforts.

Tim Lowth, Chairman of Biffaward, presented the Overall Winner's prize to Great Bowden Village Hall near Market Harborough, Leicestershire; the village hall won the Buildings for Community and Culture category and then went on to claim the overall winners prize of £5,000 plus an exclusive trophy.

The awards were hosted by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, which administers the Biffaward funding programme. The aim of the annual event – now in its tenth year – is to celebrate the achievements of the community and environmental projects supported by Biffaward, and to highlight the diversity of work made possible by Biffaward's funding.

Presenting the overall winner's prize to Great Bowden Village Hall was the Biffaward Chairman, Tim Lowth, who said: “The Biffaward Awards is an opportunity to applaud those who have had the determination and commitment to make a real difference to their local communities and environment. I congratulate everyone involved. All twenty finalists are excellent examples of just what can be achieved by drive and tenacity. The judges had an extremely difficult task in choosing the overall winner.

The quality of our public local spaces affects how we feel about where we live. Biffaward continues to make significant grants to support projects that create or enhance community places of which to be proud of. Great Bowden Village Hall has created a safe, modern space that will be the necessary centre for the whole community.

Gillian French, Biffaward's Programme Manager, explained that Biffaward would reach the £100 million landmark this Autumn – and that funding to date amounted to £96 million.

She said: “Over 1,800 projects and their communities have benefited from this funding. Biffaward is committed to continuing this rewarding work and ensuring that the next £100 million in funding continues to be allocated effectively, reaching those projects that most need supporting.”

The shortlisted projects ranged from the restoration of wetlands, to the creation of a state of the art skate park. Each competed for one of four category prizes, and then for the honour of becoming the Overall Winner for 2008. The category winners were:

• Buildings for Community and Culture (and Overall Winner): Great Bowden Village Hall, Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
• Community Outdoor Recreation: One Minet Park, Saffron Walden, Essex
• Natural Environment: Calverdale Schools Nature Trail, Wakefield, West Yorkshire 
• Small Grants: The Riverside Courtyard, Newport, Isle of Wight

 

Under the landfill tax regulations, landfill site operators can direct approximately 6% of the tax they have collected towards approved environmental projects. However, any approved project can only receive 90% of its desired funding from the landfill tax. The remainder must come direct from the landfill site operator or from a third party organisation or company.