Community Fund One Year On - Whalley in Bloom
Community Fund One Year On - Whalley in Bloom
Comprising a dedicated team of up to 35 volunteers, Whalley in Bloom has been steadfastly working to enhance the village of Whalley for both residents and visitors alike for over a decade. Not only maintaining the local surroundings, Whalley in Bloom has become a pillar of the community, connecting volunteers of all ages and receiving recognition for their work at the RHS Britain in Bloom competition – taking home three awards last year.
Almost 12 months ago, Whalley in Bloom applied for our Community Fund, offering local community-based organisations an opportunity to access grant funding that benefits their area. Applications were voted for by those living in Whalley, with Whalley in Bloom winning the ‘Bronze’ award – £15,000 to help support the group. This was the start of a partnership that has since blossomed.
We caught up with Val Clark, Chair, to find out more about what the Whalley in Bloom team have been up to and their plans for 2024…
Can you tell us a bit about Whalley in Bloom?
For the past 12 years, our focus has been on enriching the Whalley community by supporting local businesses, residents, and visitors alike. The initiative began with the Chamber Trade, comprising of just 8 individuals, who laid the foundation to put Whalley onto the map. Now we have 35 volunteers, ranging from our youngest at 30 years old, to our most experienced 82-year-old member – who is also in charge of our social media accounts! Each volunteer brings their own unique background to the table, from NHS workers to accountants, contributing their expertise and passion to making Whalley a better place.
How do people get involved?
Getting involved in our community initiative has historically relied on word-of-mouth, with regular garden sessions every Friday morning forming a central part of our group. Last year we realised that it would be great to diversify and rejuvenate our team and decided to advertise on the website and notice board, as well as organising a taster session for the public to come along and socialise with each other. This resulted in another 10 members joining our team, and we look forward to hopefully welcoming even more volunteers to the Whalley in Bloom team this year.
How did you hear about the Community Fund?
We heard about the Community Fund through some local advertising, and we thought it would be a great way to partner with the local developer and involve the new community arriving here in the village, at Whalley Manor. The grant has been a great help in our mission to make Whalley a better place to live in, and we are very grateful to the L&Q team.
What has the grant allowed you to do?
The grant has allowed us to significantly increase our maintenance throughout Whalley village, in a bid to improve the neighbourhood. We have been able to upgrade our equipment, including a state-of-the-art battery powered water bowser, replacing the manual version we previously used, and making it a lot more accessible for the team. We have also been able to establish a new, secure shed in the heart of the village, which serves as a central storage facility, a significant improvement from the old base we had near the abbey.
Since we work all year round, it was important that the team had Whalley in Bloom clothing suitable for all seasons. The grant has allowed us to purchase branded waterproof jackets and trousers and also polo shirts for the summer – they are not only practical, but also very professional!
What’s next for Whalley in Bloom and L&Q?
Last December we had the pleasure of hosting a wreath-making class at the Whalley Manor Christmas event, which proved to be a fantastic opportunity for community bonding and skill-sharing – all round good fun! We would love to host some more events in partnership with L&Q and look forward to meeting the new residents who have moved into the development over the past few months.
Discover more about living at Whalley Manor here. You can also find out more about Whalley in Bloom, by visiting whalleyinbloom.co.uk.
