Council staff donate salary pennies for local causes

A scheme that allows Powys County Council staff to donate the pennies from their monthly salaries to good local causes is about to come to fruition.

The Powys Pennies Grant Scheme enables staff to choose to ‘round down’ the pennies from their wages to the nearest pound each month.

The money is then collated and made available as grants to small organisations in Powys with a turnover under £20,000. All applications from community projects and charities are welcomed but preference will be given to applications working in the health and social care, children and young people, mental health, community transport and community development/regeneration sector.

The funding must directly benefit the organisation group or community through a specific one off activity and not be used for core organisational costs.

The grant scheme is funded by Powys County Council and Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO) employees who alos take part in the Powys Pennies scheme.

Carl Cooper, Chief Executive Officer, said: “PAVO is delighted to share with PCC a payroll giving scheme called Powys Pennies. We have now collected enough money to distribute an inaugural round of small, community grants. Often a small amount of money can make a huge difference to a community in supporting the wellbeing of its people.

“We are enormously grateful to PCC and PAVO employees that participate in this scheme by donating the pence at the end of their monthly salary. We trust you agree that your generosity has made a significant difference to people's lives. We'd be delighted to see more employees joining the scheme in order that we help a greater number of people in the future.”

Applications for the scheme will run until Monday, July 31. Applications will be assessed by a panel consisting of PAVO trustees and PCC County Councillors. All projects and activities will need to be completed by March 31, 2018.

If you are interested in applying for funding or finding out more about the scheme visit www.pavo.org.uk/funding/powys-pennies.html

Alternatively contact Sarah Leyland-Jones sarah.leyland@pavo.org or telephone 01597 822191.