Sunlight breaking through the trees in the New Forest
The ‘Taste of Wickham’ Organising Team has announced today that its application for a Big Lottery Fund grant has been successful.
The festival, which will take place in Wickham’s famous medieval square on Sunday 14 September from 10am-4pm, will showcase local producers, restaurants, shops, salons and services. More than 45 stalls will line the perimeter of the Square with live music, dance performances, cookery demonstrations and children’s activities such as face-painting, crafts and a huge bouncy castle.
Entry is free and the park-and-ride buses and the cookery demonstration will all be free of charge, thanks to the grant from the Big Lottery Fund, something which Ben Sawyers, Chairman of the Organising Team, felt was crucial for this event.
He said: “We want our event to be accessible to as wide an audience as possible, and this grant from the Big Lottery Fund allows us to achieve just that. We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Big Lottery Fund, and indeed all of our benefactors and sponsors. It’s going to be a great day!”
The team, which is being coordinated by Winchester City Council’s Market Towns Development Officer, has also succeeded in gaining corporate sponsorship for the event from a number of local businesses including the King’s Head and the Wickham store of The Southern Co-operative.
Cllr Rob Humby, Leader of Winchester City Council, is looking forward to the event.
He said: “The Taste of Wickham is set to be an exciting event for all the family, and will be a fantastic chance to discover the huge range of food, crafts and activities around the village. The local businesses and wider community have done a fantastic job to pull together this large event, and really showcase what Wickham has to offer.”
The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK – close to £6bn since its inception in 2004. The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
