Grants totalling £40,000 awarded to local good causes
Grants totalling £40,000 have been awarded to a range of Ditchling organisations as the Turner-Dumbrell Foundation marks the 40th anniversary of its inauguration.
In addition to £20,000 backing for the revamp of the recreation ground, which was announced earlier this year, at its AGM in July the trustees of the charity agreed to make grants totalling £20,000 to:
- Beacon Parish for upkeep and maintenance of St Margaret’s churchyard;
- FPTA of Ditchling Primary School towards two projects;
- The Monday Group for annual fixed costs of footpath maintenance;
- Ditchling Scouts Group for activity days;
- Oldland Mill for equipment;
- Westmeston Jubilee Pathway for refurbishment work;
- Ditchling Cricket Club for equipment; and
- The Ditchling Society for a film celebrating Ditchling’s history.
The grants are funded by rental income from the charity’s land and property holdings. Land owned by the Turner-Dumbrell Foundation comprises Lodge Hill and the neighbouring Bowries Fields as well as the site of the Community Orchard, and it also owns the workshops as you head north out of the village.
The foundation was set up in 1983 by Dr Richard Turner, who was left North End Farm, including Lodge Hill and adjoining land, by Mary Dumbrell. Her wish was that it should be used for the public benefit.
Lodge Hill is maintained as private grazing land with permission to the general public to walk and exercise there on 364 days of the year. This is in accordance with Dr Turner’s belief that exercise in a green environment contributes to the prevention of heart disease. The workshops were converted from redundant farm buildings of North End Farm with the purpose of providing space for local people engaged in arts or craft work or who are in business for the first time.
The foundation invites applications for grants every March and the trustees decide on the outcome at their annual general meeting in the summer.
If you would like to find out more about the Turner-Dumbrell Foundation there is additional information on the website, www.turner-dumbrell.org.uk
or you can contact the secretary by email at secretary@turner-dumbrell.org.uk
