NatWest Community Force offers awards of £6,000 each
NatWest Community Force makes annual awards to small charities and voluntary organisations, who are asked to apply and then the public get to vote until midday on 24th October. The three projects in the borough of Hounslow with the most votes will get the award.
It takes a few minutes just to register and then you can vote for a single deserving project. There are 22 registered candidates in the borough of Hounslow. The 2 Brentford contenders (not that we're parochial at BrentfordTW8.com) are:
Our dance project ADU helps keep people off the street and gives them something good to focus on we put on shows for our community and we take part in many events in and around Hounslow. Our fight against anti social behavour is very important.
What does your charity/project do?
We teach all ages street dance which gives them confidence and meeting new friends I have just won the TPAS Southern Region for young tenant of the year for the alliance dance unit project and in July I Won an ALMO National Award for most outstanding young person 2011 for my project in the fight against anti-social behavour gun/knife crime which myself and students were over the moon to win.
How does your charity/project support the local community?
We build up people's confidence by making them into dancers and we put on shows for our community and take part in many events in and around Hounslow. Our fight is against the negitive side of life, anti-social behavior, gun and knife crime and some of our young people have been involved in such things but have now got something to look forward to every week by coming to dance many of them say its their second home and they cant wait for mondays to come around.
What do you plan to use the CommunityForce award for?
We dont have any funding and can only just afford to have 1 day a week in the studio. We practice many times any where we can find a space mostly the carparks or park or Grandmas back garden. We would use the money for studio hire , uniforms, a new sterio and to put on a show for our community.
Our non-profit company limited by guarantee, Docking Station, is a 21st century community hub in the heart of Brentford town centre in West London.
What does your charity/project do?
At Docking Station we provide training and development opportunities by giving our volunteers the capabilities to offer our: - members the opportunity to play the latest video games, go online, and drop in to listen to new music talent from our local area. - members serviced office space in which to connect, work and innovate. - customers a space celebrate events from kids parties to corporate launches. - other non-profit partners a platform for innovation.
How does your charity/project support the local community?
Docking Station provides a platform for social innovation: from running chess clubs, to pop-up shops, to a stage for new music talent, as well as business support services. We are particularly focused on providing unemployed volunteers of all ages experience in developing and project managing the venue and activities. Through experience with us they develop and build their confidence ready to enter the mainstream job market.
What do you plan to use the CommunityForce award for?
Launching a new pop-up community cafe at Docking Station's site in the heart of Brentford with a range of community partners. We will team up catering professionals with unemployed trainees that are keen to build their experience and CV, helping them break into the catering and retail sector for the first time.
October 12, 2011