Heart of Bucks 25th Anniversary Tour Continues

Heart of Bucks Community Foundation has been funding small grass-root charities and community groups for 25-years.

To celebrate this anniversary the foundation is out on tour visiting some of these incredible groups to raise awareness of the community focused projects that can be found on our doorsteps.

On June 4th, the Heart of Bucks group which included current High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire Pippa Kirkbride and former High Sheriff and Deputy Lieutenant Carolyn Cumming, visited groups around Buckingham to learn more about the diverse range of projects taking place in one Buckinghamshire town.

The day started at the pub – but not for a drink! In the garden of the Woolpack, you’ll find Buckingham Men in Sheds. This project was set up to help to provide a safe working environment for members to make things, primarily out of wood. The group helps men who are struggling with loneliness, anxiety and isolation to feel supported and connected while benefitting their physical and mental wellbeing. It was fantastic to see the joy these sessions bring to members and if you’re in need of a bird box or bench this is the place to go!

A walk through the town took the group to Bourton Medow to meet volunteers from the Buckingham Canal Society. The group are working to restore the forgotten Buckingham canal not just to benefit the local environment and create a lovely place for leisure activities but also to support the local economy. Heart of Bucks were joined here by Poppy Hughes from Rectory Homes which has a named foundation with Heart of Bucks, and provided a grant to reinstate an inaccessible footpath near the new Bourton Meadow canal site.

Next stop was the Buckingham Rugby Union Football Club in Maid Moreton. The club received a grant from Heart of Bucks to install flood lights on an additional exercise area. This was created to accommodate the considerable growth the club has experienced in recent years for its men’s, women’s and children’s teams and to allow them to benefit the physical and mental health of even more members.

Over lunch the group heard from the Buckingham Summer Club which provides free activities for financially stretched families and families with SEND children over the summer holidays. Sessions include activities which parents can easily replicate at home, refreshments and a takeaway bag with a book and equipment to complete a craft activity at home.

At Buckingham School, Heart of Bucks got to meet Forest School teacher ‘Mr Mud’ in the forest classroom created with the help of a grant from Heart of Bucks. The setting provides a safe adventure for the school children to learn more about the environment as well as practical skills. The site is used by a range of class groups plus afterschool, holiday and external clubs and groups widening the reach of this fantastic site.

Last stop of the day was Jedidiah – a free fresh food pantry in central Buckingham. When the group arrived, the volunteers were setting up for services where clients are invited into the space to ‘shop’ for supplies. The friendly welcoming setting ensures that everyone who attends the food pantry feels supported, welcome and respected making it a happy experience for volunteers and beneficiaries alike.