Telford group gets fundraising booster for 50th anniversary celebration

A Telford community group is gearing up to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a celebration of Caribbean culture.

Verley Brissett, the chairman of Telford West Indian Association, has been involved with the group since it launched in the long hot summer of 1976.

Mr Brissett told Hadley & Leegomery Parish Council that TWIA is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary on August 11 this year with an event to bring the community together.

“The event will bring people together and celebrate culture and heritage and give them the opportunity to play with a steel band,” said Mr Brissett.

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The charity, based in High Street, Hadley, supports the Caribbean Sunshine Steel Band which played for the Queen when she visited Telford, and has appeared on the Paul O’Grady Show.

Mr Brissett asked the council to consider a grant of £2,500 to cover the costs of the celebration, entertainment and the production of posters.

Councillors expressed their support for the association’s event but pointed out that they have a budget of £5,000 to give out in grant money for the whole year.

Councillor David Brown (Independent, Apley Castle ward) said: “£2,500 is quite a big ask with the limited grant funding that we’ve got.”

He proposed that the council contribute £1,000.

Councillor Stuart Parr (Conservative, Hadley Manor ward) said it would be “reasonable that other parishes make a contribution as well”.

Chairman Councillor Eileen Callear (Labour, Trench Lock ward) said borough councillors now have a new pot of funding that is available and can be applied for.

“There’s another funding option,” she said.

Councillors voted unanimously to give the group £1,000 in grant funding.