Councillor's donation for Watford children (From Watford Observer)

Hertfordshire County Councillor has donated £6,500 to children's charities in Watford

12:51pm Tuesday 3rd November 2009 in News By Michael Pickard

Children in Watford will benefit from a £6,500 donation from a county councillor.

Councillor Nigel Bell, who represents Vicarage and Holywell wards, has handed £5,000 to Westfield Children's Centre and £1,500 to Home-Start Watford and Three Rivers.

The money was part of a £10,000 “locality budget” given to all 77 county councillors to spend on worthwhile community projects.

Westfield will use the money in tandem with another charity, Farming For All, to provide outdoor learning for children under five.

The donation will be spent on creating a garden on the children's centre site, where Farming For All will run activities.

Jodie Noakes, from Westfield Children's Centre, said: "We are very excited to have been given this funding as outdoor learning is so important to our families, most of whom live in flats on the Holywell estate with little access to safe outdoor space."

Jude Allen, of Farming For All, added: "With this fund we will be able to transform an underused garden into an exciting safe place to play. In our activity sessions, families and children will create bird boxes and feeders, wildlife study areas, allotment plots, living willow play domes and recycled art. We’re very excited by this new partnership with Westfield Children’s Centre."

Home-Start Watford and Three Rivers is a voluntary organisation that helps families with children under five in their own homes.

Volunteers visit families to offer support, friendship and practical help in dealing with a range of issues, from financial difficulties to relationship problems.

The donation from Councillor Bell will pay for at least one extra family to receive support for a year.

Vivienne Davies, of Home-Start, said: "We are really grateful to Councillor Bell. We have several families waiting for Home-Start support in his area, so the fact that we can support another family is brilliant."

Councillor Bell said: "I'm delighted to be able to help these organisations provide valuable support for young children and their parents, so that they can live healthy, safe and enjoyable lives."

Locality budgets were launched by Hertfordshire County Council in July. For more information on how to apply, visit www.hertsdirect.org and type 'locality budgets' into the search box.