Examiner Community Cash Giveaway - MP’s praise for community groups

Apr 7 2009 By Joanne Douglas

COMMUNITY groups in Huddersfield got a cash injection of £30,000 yesterday.

Forty two groups got a windfall thanks to the Examiner and the Community Foundation for Calderdale.

Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman and Deputy Mayoress Clr Julie Stewart-Turner attended the cash-giveaway event and met many of the winners at the Galpharm Stadium last night.

Mr Sheerman praised the community spirit in the town and said the groups were a lifeline for many people and called for more people to get involved.

He said: "The community only comes to life by people actually going out there and doing things.

"All these people from the young to the elderly are doing things for the good of this community – from drama groups to bands and choral groups, it’s fantastic and we need a lot more of them."

Chris Charlesworth, chairperson of the Huddersfield Riding for the Disabled thanked the organisers for their £900 donation which will go towards new specialist equipment.

She said: "The volunteers who help the Riding for the Disabled do it just to see the enjoyment they bring to the lives of our riders.

"Just to see a smile, a laugh or a chuckle is enough and makes all the hard work worthwhile."

Ryan Thornton, of Bradley, is from the Huddersfield Sharks Underwater Hockey Club.

He said their £900 would be spent on equipment for the members and added: "It’s a great, fun sport and this money will go a long way and we are thankful to everybody involved."

The Examiner’s Head of Content Andrew Hirst said that more than 200 groups applied for the cash giveaway.

Of those, 42 were successful in getting varying amounts of money up to £900.

He said: "This money is going to make a big difference for these community groups."

And all of the money will be used to benefit local people.

From a spectator shelter for the Lowerhouses Community Bowling Club to a second hand sports wheelchair for the Cardinals Wheelchair Sports and Social Club, more and more people will benefit thanks to the cash giveaway.