Freedom Fibre Award Grants to 23 North Shropshire Community Projects

Alternative UK network operator Freedom Fibre, which has built their 10Gbps capable full fibre broadband (XGS-PON / FTTP) network to cover 300,000 premises across England (27th Mar 2024) and is home to 20,000 customers (12th Aug 2024), has today awarded thousands of pounds to support 23 community groups from across North Shropshire.

The grants form part of the £25,000 that the operator allocated to their “Freedom Fund” for North Shropshire in April 2024 (here), which is open to non-profit community groups and environmental projects in areas where Freedom Fibre are currently deploying their new full fibre network. Each project could apply for up to £500 worth of funding.

Neil McArthur, Freedom Fibre’s CEO, said: “The non-profit groups that have received the funding are all working to positively impact their communities through education, sustainability efforts, and projects that bring local residents together. All these goals directly align with Freedom Fibre’s own company values, and we feel incredibly privileged to work alongside these community groups to help benefit the areas where Freedom Fibre is building our network.”

Successful applicants for this year’s Freedom Fund (North Shropshire):

1. Greenfields Community Group, which was awarded £250 to contribute towards a solar-powered light for an information sign, as well as to create a herb garden.
2. Friends of Buntingsdale PTFA, which was awarded £250 to contribute towards improvements to the Buntingsdale Primary School playground.
3. Wem Rural Parish Council, which was awarded £250 to contribute towards hosting a local environmental awareness event.
4. Great Mess to Little Mess Community Projects, which was awarded £500 to contribute towards litter picking kits.
5. Great Ness & Little Ness Parish Council, which was awarded £250 to contribute towards the refurbishment of Wilcott Play Area.
6. We are Whitchurch, which was awarded £500 to contribute towards trees and bushes for Jubilee Park.
7. 4 All Foundation, which was awarded £500 to contribute towards an allotment for a children’s eco group.
8. Renshaw’s Field Association, which was awarded £500 to contribute towards new benches for Renshaw’s field.
9. Payton Recreation Ground and Village Hall, which was awarded £214 to contribute towards bird boxes, wild seed, and a bench.
10. The Friends of Whitchurch Road Cemetery, which was awarded £500 to contribute towards trees and a bench for the cemetery.
11. Green Shoots in Weston Rhyn, which was awarded £250 to contribute towards signs for newt and toad crossings, as well as signs about verge regrowth.
12. Sutton upon Tern Parish Council, which was awarded £500 to contribute towards clearing ditches to prevent flooding, as well as funding wildflowers.
13. Welshampton and Lyneal Climate, Sustainability and Biodiversity Working Group, which was awarded £500 to contribute towards plants, bulbs, seeds, and materials for bird and bat boxes for the local community.
14. Whittington Castle Preservation Trust, which was awarded £500 to contribute towards funding for a ‘Eco Warriors’ kids club on the castle grounds.
15. Lyneal Trust, which was awarded £400 to contribute towards wildflowers, bat boxes, and an earth bank to reduce flooding.
16. Ford Parish Council, which was awarded £500 to contribute towards fruit trees and a planter for land outside Ford village hall.
17. Pant Memorial Institute, which was awarded £500 to contribute towards refurbishing Pant Memorial Hall’s toilet and make it more water efficient.
18. St Martins Youth Club, which was awarded £400 to contribute towards bird boxes, water butts, seed trays, compost, trellis, pots, and a compost bin.
19. The Shropshire Union Canal Society, which was awarded £500 to contribute towards hollow boxes for a living bank alongside the canal for water voles and other nature.
20. Queensway Playing Fields Association, which was awarded £250 to contribute towards planting fruit bushes.
21. Rodington Parish Climate and Nature Group, which was awarded £500 to contribute towards shrubs, trees, bulbs, compost, and bark.
22. Friends of Baschurch COE Primary School, which was awarded £500 to contribute towards a natural play environment for children.
23. Whitchurch Blackberry Fair, which was awarded £250 to contribute towards donating trees and promoting a community orchard.