Projects

Tolerance

ePewsey: integrating the community
Grant:            £3,305

Pewsey’s internet café, e-Pewsey, used its grant to open special free sessions for the large population of overseas migrant workers in Pewsey, who are isolated and unable to used the café in the daytime. The project has been very successful, and the sparkplugs hope it will continue indefinitely. ePewsey manager and sparkplug Lee Grafton said, "We were expecting to have perhaps 200 visits a month but currently we are getting about 800.” The service has shown to be so vital that non-UK national service users – 66% of all users of evening sessions - are volunteering to run the café at weekends, so that they and others can access its services. 

South Petherton Youth Parish Council
Grant:            £4,000

The village of South Petherton benefited hugely since it launched a Young People’s Parish Council. Crime and anti-social behaviour levels have decreased and respect for young people increased. This project shared their learning and experience, through a peer-led approach, initially aimed to help four or five local nearby parishes to set up similar young people’s parish councils - and reap the benefits. In fact, following a showcasing event, eight parish council hope to set up youth parish councils of their own, far exceeding their original target.

Click here to see the South Petherton Project Plan

Islamic Awareness in Bournemouth
Grant:            £3,200

Two young female sparkplugs wanted to address common misconceptions about Islam and encourage better integration between Muslims and non-Muslims. They invited non-Muslim young people to the local Islamic centre to meet and make friends with Muslims their own age, stimulate discussion and questioning – and lead to more understanding and tolerance.  Lead sparkplug, Nabeela Khan, has made good contacts and the project has a champion in the local LEA, with local schools very interested.  Initial reactions have been very positive.