Thanks to funding from the Cambrian Railway Partnership, Newtown, Powys brownies have been given the opportunity to learn lifesaving skills to lessen the pressure on parents who are already under financial strain by the cost-of-living crisis.
The 2nd Newtown Brownies received £503.40 from the Partnership’s Community Support Fund to help with health and wellbeing activities.
The money will help develop the Brownies’ basic lifesaving skills, access to sport sessions at their base in Treowen Community Hall, incorporate STEM activities, and gain their Montgomeryshire Girlguiding walking badges and first aid skills builder badges.
Unit leader Cheryl Jarman said:
“We struggle to fundraise since the Covid pandemic, money is tight for everyone, so this funding is invaluable. “The aims of the project are to promote health and wellbeing, overcome barriers to poverty, provide positive impacts on mental health, reduce barriers to accessing these types of activities so that girls gain self-esteem and resilience for the future, whilst leaders benefit and fulfil the Girlguiding ethos.”
The funding will enhance unit-based activities and the Girlguiding programme by providing health and wellbeing activities during the school holidays to help families who are impacted by the cost-of-living crisis so that girls can attend.
The first of three walks – a six-mile round trip to a nature reserve – took place early on a Sunday morning with science and maths activities.
Cheryl added:
“There were 15 despondent faces at the start of the walk, on the return there were 15 happy but tired faces who looked forward to lunching out. “We are looking forward to the other parts of the project and we are so grateful to the Cambrian Railway Partnership for allowing us to make this happen.”
Claire Williams, Community Rail Officer for the Cambrian Railway Partnership said:
“We are delighted to have been able to support 2nd Newtown Brownies through the Community Support Fund. We understand the strain the cost of living crisis is having on many families. We hope the funding has been able to relieve some of that burden by ensuring their children can continue to access activities that have a positive impact on their physical and emotional health and well-being while learning essential lifesaving skills”.
The Community Support Fund was launched in September 2022, receiving applications for community projects that alleviate social isolation and/or improve health and wellbeing. A total of £20,000 was awarded to 17 community organisations within a 10km radius of the Cambrian Main Line and Cambrian Coast Line. The scheme was administered by Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO), and in partnership with Ceredigion Association of Voluntary Organisations (CAVO), Mantell Gwynedd and Community Resource Shropshire.