Community Stars: Year in Review 2023

During 2023, our second year of Community Stars, we wanted to give to more local not-for-profit groups doing great work in and around the community. Our Community Stars program donated £12,000 between 31 groups this year, here's how we did...

Spring Awardees

We decided to hold colleague votes to decide the 11 charities that we were going to award funds to:

• £650 - Walthew House 

• £650 - Mentell

• £500 - Re-dish

• £500 - Coffee, Chill and Spill

• £400 - Supportability

• £400 - Seashell Trust

• £300 - Feeding the Community Stockport

• £300 - Beyond Bea

• £100 - Bare Necessities Toiletry Bank 

• £100 - Brinnington Big Local

• £100 - Reddish Scorpions

Helen Barton, the business community volunteer at Mentell, added: “As a charity founded in Stockport, to be recognised and supported by the Vernon Building Society is just wonderful. Mentell provides circles for men aged 18+ to talk in a safe and confidential space, free from advice and judgment.  

“Monies received will enable the circles to take place, training new facilitators to hold those safe spaces and raise awareness of men's mental health and the support available to men within the community.”

Summer Awardees

For the second awarding of the year, we took a colleague vote again to decide which local not-for-profits would receive a share of £4,000:

• £650 - Keira's Kingdom

• £650 - Jump Space

• £500 - Community Computers (Renewal North West)

• £500 - Autisk

• £400 - Charnwood Trust

• £400 - Poynton Golden Memories Group 

• £300 - Poynton Pedals for All

• £300 - New Horizons Stockport Canal Boat Trust

• £200 - Friends of Reddish South Station

• £100 - Bramhall in Bloom

Marie Fisher, Chief Executive Officer at Jump Space, said:

"We are thrilled here at Jump Space for being awarded £650 from the community stars program. The money will go towards new equipment as we are in the process of a major refurbishment of our centre. Thank you everyone at the Vernon for your amazing support"

Winter Awardees

Continuing with our colleague votes to decide who is being awarded funds, we awarded our third set of Community Stars funding:

• £650 - Smart Works Greater Manchester 

• £650 - Independent Options North West

• £500 - PIE: Pursuing Individual Excellence 

• £500 - Arts for Recovery in the Community (Arc)

• £400 - Read Easy Stockport

• £400 - Defibulous 

• £300 - Snowdrops Post-Natal Depression Support Group

• £300 - St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

• £200 - Reddish Community Together 

• £100 - Red Foxes Under 19s

Jacqui Wood, Chief Executive of Arts for Recovery in the Community said:

"The support of the Vernon Building Society Community Stars fund will help us to offer more creative well-being activities to families, children, young people, and adults in Stockport who are facing real mental health challenges.

"Through taking part in supportive, welcoming art projects which will boost their confidence and mental health, they will be able to connect with others and realise that they are not alone."

Looking Towards 2024

As we head into our 100th year, we plan to keep Community Stars running alongside the new Vernon Charitable Foundation. Keep your eyes peeled for exciting announcements coming in the New Year to hear about applications and what is coming next.