Beddington Community Benefit Fund has distributed over £38,500 to nine projects across Croydon, Merton and Sutton.

The community funding programme has helped hospitals, organisations and charities, flourish in their communities.

In the last twelve months, the fund has supported community halls in Croydon, provided sporting equipment for sports clubs in Purley and Wallington, set up wildlife gardens in schools and has offered huge grants to organisations in Merton and Sutton.

Launched by recycling, renewable energy and waste management company, Viridor, the fund aims to help projects which demonstrate support and benefit communities.

Your Local Guardian:

The community funding programme has donated nearly £5000 to Maggie’s at the Royal Marsden in Sutton, to help enhance treatment and care.

Fundraising Manager for Maggie’s at The Royal Marsden, Lydia Spencer, said: “We are so thankful to the Beddington Community Benefit Fund which has helped us to organise and facilitate a variety of support groups, workshops and courses at our new Maggie’s Centre in Sutton."

Another project which has benefited from the fund is, Commonside Trust in Merton, who received £5000 to help fund kitchen appliances and a leaf composter to create a soil conditioner for their on-site allotment.

Director of the Commonside Trust, Naomi Martin, said: “We have been looking to upgrade our kitchen facilities for many years.

Your Local Guardian:

"This funding has enabled us to renew our appliances for more energy-efficient ones and also buy a leaf composter to help enrich our own allotment with compost.

"Our project will reduce the amount of food we waste and help us to grow more vegetables onsite to feed our community.”

Head of Contracts for Viridor in the South East and member of Funding Panel, Mike Stafford, said: “It is a great pleasure to continue our support through the Beddington Community Fund.

"Our community benefit fund also works to support charitable projects to grow and become more sustainable.

"It has been inspiring to review and understand more about the wide range of applications and projects we receive each year.

"We look forward to receiving many more requests for funding in the coming year.”

Applications for the Beddington Community Benefit Fund are currently open.

If you could benefit from the fund, contact: beddingtonerfcommunityfund@viridor.co.uk