The Stevenage Works Community Chest Fund started in 2020, allowing local community groups to apply for a share of the fund each year. It's managed by Stevenage Works in collaboration with North Hertfordshire College (NHC) and Job Centre Plus (JCP), creating a coordinated effort to bring social value to the community.

The fund comes from contributions by contractors who work closely with the council and give back to the community through their social value commitments.

When the fund is open for bidding, local community organisations can bid for a share of the pot of money.

Projects we look for should aim to improve the economic, social, or environmental well-being of people in Stevenage. The bids can be proposed by local community groups/clubs, charities, organisations, or residents within or operating in Stevenage.

Bid Winners 2023

There were 12 winners for 2023 who shared a money pot of £19,000 donated by:

• Mulalley (£2,500)
• Wates (£3,000)
• Reef (£5,000)
• Aaron Services (£2,000)
• EEM Community Donations (£5,500)
• Lovells (£1,000)

Successful Bidders

Babyshed (Stevenage Vineyard)

Babyshed is expanding its services from supporting new mums and babies up to 1-year-old to include toddlers up to 3 years old. Stevenage Vineyard has secured a larger rental space. Babyshed will use its £1,500 funding to turn this space into a safe and usable area.

Bedwell Community Association

After running a pilot for a toddler group at Bedwell Community Centre, (which proved to be popular), £1,920 was awarded to help them continue to rent the space and offer interactive play, healthy snacks, and give the parents and toddlers a safe and fun place to play.

Bedwell Rangers FC

In preparation for the winter months, Bedwell Rangers are looking to supply warm training jackets to as many players in their girls, boys, and inclusive section as possible to allow them to enjoy their football whatever the weather. Their £500 award will help towards purchasing 120 jackets which would kit out their 12 youngest teams.

East & North Herts Hospitals’ Charity

The charity will be putting their £1,000 funding award towards building an outside terrace on the intensive care unit at Lister Hospital, so that patients in the intensive care unit can be pushed outside in their beds to see the sky. This will create a space which can be used all year round, regardless of the weather, and will be easily accessible to all their patients. The build will also create two 'Sky rooms' - non-clinical spaces with skylights and doors that open onto the terrace, and will also allow them to refit the staff room for their ICU staff. 

Everyone Active

£2,080 will help Everyone Active to offer a free Strength and Mobility class at the Chells Manor Community Centre in Stevenage. This will be part of their community outreach work to help provide activity sessions in the community, outside their leisure facilities so that they can reach as many people as possible in venues close to their homes. 

Friends of Hampson Park

Friends of Hampson Park will use their £500 funding award as part payment towards the Wycomb Pastures Petting Zoo who will be attending the Teddy Bears Picnic in July 2024. They bring along many different animals and allow them to be handled (where appropriate) and provide information about the animals and how to care for them. A small family run business, that has proved to be very popular and informative at previous events.

Grace Community Church

Grace Community Church (a children's clothes bank) support 100 children each month and will use their £2,000 funding award to help them provide Christmas presents, footwear (to include school shoes and waterproof trainers), and new underwear every month.

Pin Green Community Association

Pin Green Community Association runs a lunch club three days a week. They will use their £3,000 funding award to subsidise the cost of a hot lunchtime meal for their members.The lunch club get people out socialising with other members and helps alleviate the worry of the cost of living crisis.

St Nich’s Litter Pickers

St Nich's litter pickers go out every Friday afternoon between 12:45 and 2pm, whatever the weather. Their £500 funding award will be used to provide new members with equipment.

Stevenage Community Trust

Stevenage Community Trusts £3,500 funding award will help toward providing:

• heating grants;
• hardship grants help towards essential items for people in need;
• Christmas gift cards for young children of families in financial difficulty;
• Community projects.

Stevenage Cycling Hub

Stevenage Cycling Hub provide training, refurbished cycles, cycle workshop, and information services to the community. They will use their £1,500 funding award to subsidise their 1-2-1 lessons (SG1 and SG2 areas). Any funding that is not used can be used to subsidise the adult training courses.

Stevenage Repair Café

Volunteers at the Repair Café meet at Bedwell Community Centre the first Saturday of each month and try to repair broken or damaged household items. They also encourage visitors to watch and learn mending skills for themselves.

As a result of enquiries from the public they are also setting up a tutorial group for basic sewing and carpentry skills. 

The £1,000 funding award will mean that they will be able to run their project for at least one year.