The Mayor of Farnham presented a grant of £1,500 to Challengers, the local disability charity which provides play, fun and builds friendships for children aged 2 to 18. The funding is for Challengers’ summer youth scheme for Farnham.

“Challengers breaks down the barriers to amazing play experiences for disabled children and young people. Its youth scheme in Farnham has been providing fun, exciting experiences for teenagers with a range of impairments throughout the summer months and we are delighted to be able to support it through Farnham’s community fund,” says the Mayor of Farnham, Councillor Alan Earwaker.

Accepting the cheque from the Mayor, Joanna McCaffrey, from Challengers says: “We want our young people’s opportunities to be on par with their non-disabled peers so the contribution from the Farnham Community Fund is vital to help us run the quality of activities that we would like. It’s not just about equipment and facilities; our staff are specially trained and our high staff to child ratios are vital, both for safety and to ensure a great experience for participants.”  

The Mayor continues: “Importantly, the scheme allows young people to enjoy activities from which they are often excluded. By taking part in the scheme, they can challenge their impairments and sometimes find new talents. Just as important are the opportunities to share the experiences and make new friends.”

Farnham’s community grant fund is open to local not-for-profit organisations looking for one-off funding or projects that require funding for up to three years. The maximum contribution per project is £2,000 and applicants must demonstrate how the project or works will benefit the local community or environment.

The fund will be inviting new applications in the autumn. Previously successful applicants have included community halls, sports and leisure activities, arts and culture projects, schemes for older people, young people, people with disabilities and people coping with disadvantages. 

Full information about the fund, including how to apply and the decision-making timetable is on Farnham Town Council’s website.