Latest news with #communityprojects
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Lancashire Police gets £500,000 windfall from seized Bitcoin
A police force has had a £500,000 windfall after cryptocurrency it seized went up in value. Lancashire Police discovered that money which had been reported stolen in a major fraud case had been converted into Bitcoin. Before the original sum could be returned to the victim, the cryptocurrency had continued to rise in value. A force spokesman said because the law forbade paying victims more than had been stolen from them, Lancashire Police had been allowed by a court to keep half of the £1m surplus generated by the Bitcoin. Cryptocurrencies are digital monetary units and are not controlled by centralised financial institutions.A spokesman said the money would be "prioritised for local community projects, crime prevention programmes, and initiatives which aim to make a positive difference to deal with crime prevention and reduction".Seized funds have previously been used to fund drones, spam call blocking devices and schemes to combat antisocial behaviour. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Town receives thousands in funding to support local projects
Royal Wootton Bassett has received multiple grants of external funding, which will be used to help support local projects in the area. The town council has announced the funding grants and which accumulate in almost £100,000 which will go towards the community. A spokesperson for Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council said they are "delighted" to have received the influx. They said: "The Town Council is delighted to announce that it has secured external funding to support a range of important local projects aimed at enhancing the town's facilities and services. "Thanks to Community First, who manage and administrate the Landfill Communities Fund in Wiltshire and Swindon, this funding will help bring several projects to life including: £30,000 towards the replacement of the wooden bridges at Jubilee Lake (part of the ongoing development plan for the area). "£10,000 towards display cabinets for the Town Hall for display, storage and artefacts. "£50,000 towards the Jubilee Lake Play Park refurbishment programme and other smaller play parks refurbishment programme. "Work is expected to begin in the coming months, with more updates to follow as each project progresses "External funding is an important source of income to the Town Council, and we are committed to continuously seeking grants which will help us bring project ideas to life and creating valuable assets for Royal Wootton Bassett without using the council precept or the Town Hall Trust funds." Recommended reading Comedian joins campaigners at Oasis concert in bid to save sports hall Residents react to 400 new homes to be built near Swindon What's happening to the Adver's former home in Old Town? The town is undergoing a major transformation. Along with the grants to fund restoration projects and to help improve the Jubilee Lake area, there are lots of development plans in the air. The Advertiser recently reported that 400 new homes have been proposed in the town, with residents reacting negatively to the potential build. The site is set to have housing built on the land opposite Salley Pussey's and will bring the town closer to Swindon. On July 27, it was also reported that the new sports centre, which will cost £100,000 will be built on Showfield Park. The decision to try and build a Multi Use Sports Area (known as a MUSA) in Royal Wootton Bassett was first announced in June 2025, when town councillors resolved to turn this idea into a reality. The MUSA would include a hard court and fenced area, providing the space for a variety of sports to be played, including football, hockey, basketball and more.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Youth charity works with council to promote young voices
A youth charity has teamed up with South Oxfordshire District Council to deliver a number of projects this year. Didcot TRAIN is working with the council's Didcot Garden Town team to ensure young people have an influence on work being delivered in the town. Ben Drabble, CEO at Didcot TRAIN, said: "Our youth club's been buzzing. "Paint, plants, music, ideas flying everywhere. Our young people stepped up, got creative and left their mark on Didcot. "We're proud of what they've made and how they've made it happen. Big thanks to South Oxfordshire District Council for believing in the power of youth work." The partnership is supporting the Didcot Garden Party, a summer programme that highlights health, wellbeing, active lifestyles, and sustainability. As part of this programme, an artist has been commissioned to work with young people on a public art display at Cornerstone Arts Centre. Didcot TRAIN and Sustainable Didcot also helped to install recycled steel planters and reclaimed hardwood benches outside Cornerstone. The artwork in a window at Cornerstone (Image: South Oxfordshire District Council) A Didcot TRAIN workshop with artist Tom McLean (Image: South Oxfordshire District Council) Nine young people from Didcot recently embarked on a three-day sailing adventure across the Solent, accompanied by youth workers from TRAIN. The trip was funded through the district council's Councillor Community Grant Scheme. Councillor Tony Worgan, cabinet member for economic development and regeneration at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: "It's fantastic to see such creative and collaborative projects taking shape in Didcot. "By working closely with Didcot TRAIN and other local partners, we're not only investing in our public spaces but also empowering young people."
BBC News
02-08-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Two Bottesford community projects to receive major funding boost
Two community projects in a North Lincolnshire town will receive a major funding boost. Bottesford Football Club and Bottesford Pavilion have been awarded a combined grant of £320,000 to improve their funding is provided by North Lincolnshire Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which is part of the government's Levelling Up leader Rob Waltham said: "These are two great projects that will support hundreds of residents to see improved access for sporting and community activities." Bottesford Football Club will be given £200,000 to upgrade the indoor gym facilities at its home ground of Barrett Steel Stadium in Scunthorpe. The club supports more than 24 teams, ranging from under-7s to senior level, including a Down's Syndrome team, a Special Olympics team, and Wildcats for girls. Founded in 1974, it previously secured a grant of £1.5m to build a floodlit 3G pitch, upgrade grass pitches and improve the covered seating and disability Pavilion will get £120,000 to enhance access by adding new toilet facilities, along with upgrading to more energy efficient heating and lighting. Councillor John Davison, cabinet member for communities, said: "Both of these facilities will benefit greatly from this cash boost. "Hundreds of residents use these facilities every week and this investment will enable them to have an improved experience." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
27-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Three Gloucestershire community projects to share £800k
Three community projects are set to share more than £800,000 from homebuilding levies in Gloucestershire. Tewkesbury Borough Council is allocating £804,251 to projects in Tewkesbury, Cheltenham and Gloucester, following a decision made at a joint investment comes from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) payments collected across the three council areas between January 2019 and February 2025. CIL charges are imposed by local authorities on developers carrying out new building projects to help fund surrounding Richard Stanley, leader of Tewkesbury Borough Council, said the investment reflected a "strong commitment" to "long-term community wellbeing". The levies are used to address the increased demand on local services and amenities created by new housing and other developments. The first project to receive funds will be the Blackbridge Community Sports Hub in Podsmead, Gloucester. A total of £534,251 will go towards funding phase two of the scheme, with planned improvements to the grass pitches, sustainable drainage, and Sarah Sawyer, cabinet member for planning at Gloucester City Council, said the state-of-the-art facility would "open up many more opportunities, especially for young people". In Tewkesbury, £120,000 will be allocated towards a new footbridge over the River will replace the Legion Footbridge, which closed in April 2020 due to safety final project to benefit will be £150,000 towards the shared waste and recycling depot for Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.
