Abri will be leading the Healthy Whitehill & Bordon Programme as the town begins its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
We have been selected by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) to take on the role for the next two years and has been allocated £100,000 to support community projects in the town.
Working closely with the Whitehill & Bordon Neighbourhood Resilience Group, we will lead a partnership which will deliver projects that support the response to the pandemic, as well as projects that can demonstrate long term sustainability linked to the Healthy Whitehill and Bordon Programme.
Cllr Richard Millard, Leader of EHDC, said: “Neighbourhood groups are providing fantastic local support, but they have already identified a range of issues which require a coordinated response. The funding is urgently required to deliver this response.
“By working in close partnership Abri, EHDC and the other members of the Whitehill & Bordon Resilience Group have been able to support people through the pandemic and help them get back on their feet.
“We are delighted to see Abri Group take over this crucial role and look forward to the partnership making a big difference to the community in the coming years.”
The Healthy Whitehill & Bordon programme forms part of the Healthy New Towns scheme, which re-directed funding to emergency initiatives during the peak of COVID-19. As we enter the recovery phase, we are pleased to be supporting Whitehill Town Council and local community groups including Community First and the Whitehill & Bordon Community Trust to identify projects that will benefit the area. Cllr Andy Tree, Leader of the Whitehill Town Council, said:
“The town council is looking forward to working with Abri and other partners to serve the community, as we look to bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic and support our Whitehill & Bordon residents.”
Projects will range from financial support for food banks and hot meal provision to wellbeing schemes. We worked closely with EHDC during the lockdown period to adapt Café 1759 into a food distribution centre and we are pleased to continue this work to identify new support services that will allow the community to thrive.
“Partnership working is essential in ensuring communities have the correct levels of support to stay healthy and happy. By working with our colleagues at East Hampshire District Council we hope to see new initiatives come to life that will create positive pathways to a happy and healthy community.” – Michelle Dawson, Managing Director of Community Services at Abri Group