In July 2024, Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation's Grants Committee met and agreed £27,000 of funding across five local organisations.

This support is "instrumental in addressing the pressing needs within our community" - the committee said.

The five groups are:

Read Easy

£2,000 was given to train reading coaches and provide materials for adult residents learning to read.

This initiative will empower adults with essential literacy skills, fostering greater independence and opportunities.

Read Easy is a national charity that trains volunteers and provides them with resources to become Read Easy coaches.

Friends of SADA

£10,000 to provide a support worker and art therapist for families affected by domestic abuse.

This funding will enhance the support network for these families, offering both practical and emotional assistance. 

Historically, Letchworth has experienced significantly higher rates of domestic abuse compared to other nearby towns. 

Letchworth and Baldock District Scouts

£2,500 to purchase five new tents suitable for mountain camps.

This investment will enable the LBDS Explorers to participate in annual peak assaults and planned mountain expeditions throughout the year.

These expeditions help to develop the leadership skills, communication skills and personal resilience of those taking part. 

Early Birds Pre-School

£8,000 to purchase equipment for children attending the new 0-2 community pre-school in West View.

Unicef's, early moments matter campaign shares why the right food, stimulation and care are essential to a baby's brain development in the first 1,000 days of life.

This funding will enable Early Birds to invest in a range of equipment aimed at providing the best environment for children to thrive.

Let's Make Lunch

£4,500 to run food-based activities during school holidays for families on lower incomes. This program not only provides nutritious meals and arts and crafts activities, it also fosters community and teaches valuable cooking skills. 

Funding will support 18 months of food-based provision for Letchworth families. Let's Make Lunch, an initiative led by the New Life Church based at Mrs Howard Hall, is delivered in partnership with Churches Together.

This collaboration draws together volunteers from various churches across the town and utilises church facilities to provide food and activities during school holidays.

Grant applications are usually completed online and then proposed to the grants committee who meet regularly to discuss the details of each application.  

The Grants committee meet four weeks after each deadline, and accept grants applications any time during the year.  Potential applicants are advised to visit https://www.letchworth.com/grants before the respective deadline. 

The committee said: "Please be advised through our wider grants program, we are working closely with schools around mental health programs.  

"However, if you are looking to do something in the community, based on young people's mental health, please contact [email protected] or call 07714 521567 for an initial chat to discuss."