Residents Administration at UDC provides over £300k in grants to the Uttlesford volunteer sector

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The Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) administration at Uttlesford District Council has provided funding support for fifteen local bodies that coordinate volunteer activity and provide direct support to residents in need.

Neil Hargreaves (R4U) Neil Hargreaves (R4U)

R4U’s Cllr Neil Hargreaves, who is UDC portfolio holder for Finance, said “Even though much of the recent increased Covid top-up funding has now passed, UDC’s volunteer-sector grant scheme is still able to provide vital funding to enable local organisations. Through the scheme we’re delighted to have recently allocated £310,000 in grants. The biggest recipients are the local Citizens Advice services with funding of £163,000. They provide extensive and free advice to residents about debt and money, benefits entitlement, housing, employment, family and health matters – and much more.”

Maggie Sutton (R4U) Maggie Sutton (R4U)

R4U’s Cllr Maggie Sutton, who is UDC portfolio holder for Communities added “Volunteer Uttlesford and the Council for Voluntary Services Uttlesford (CVSU) both play major roles in coordinating and connecting volunteer activity and residents across our district. They have been awarded grants that total £55,000 to continue their important work. In addition, UDC has also provided grant-funding directly to several other local organisations that support residents who are vulnerable or with disabilities or in need. These include Uttlesford Community Travel, Accoro care services, Action for Family Carers, Home-Start Essex, Support 4 Sight, Hearing Help Essex and Uttlesford Buffy Bus.”

Cllr Sutton concluded “As we’ve seen through the last two years of the pandemic, the local volunteer sector has an important role in providing necessary extra support to those residents in need – and in fact are a safety-net for many. With the squeeze on wallets this year, their services are likely to remain important for many residents. The grant allocation committee applaud and thank all the selfless work done by volunteers for their fellow residents in our district.”

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About Residents for Uttlesford

Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) is the local independent party of north-west Essex towns and villages. It believes that on local issues residents should decide, not Westminster parties. R4U’s success has been based on the desire to give local people a voice and implement long range strategic and sustainable plans for where they live. It has turned around both councils it has been elected to lead to make them now multi award-winning.

R4U leads Uttlesford District Council (UDC). In its first election in 2015 it became the second party at UDC. In May 2019, it gained majority control of the authority by inflicting the biggest loss of seats on any Conservative controlled council in the UK. In May 2023, R4U retained control of UDC.

R4U also leads Saffron Walden Town Council, where under its stewardship the council since 2015 it has rebuilt finances, invested in community assets, and won multiple awards, including the best run council in Essex.

Residents for Uttlesford can be found on the web at www.residents4u.org.

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