Saltash grants boost food charity, festival and football club

A laptop that finally works properly. A stage that stays lit for six days straight. A football pitch that some of the youngest players in Saltash have never had a home game on. Saltash Town Council’s latest round of community grants touches all three, and none of the amounts involved are particularly large. What they are paying for is the interesting part.

What the Community Chest actually funds

The Town Council sets aside a budget each year for grants to activities or events that benefit the town. The Community Chest backs small-scale projects that improve the town environment and strengthen the community and local economy, while a separate Festival Fund supports larger, free events that draw big crowds.

“Saltash Town Council is proud to support local organisations that make such a positive difference to the lives of our residents,” said Mayor Cllr Brian Stoyel. “Through the Community Chest grant scheme, we are able to invest in projects that strengthen our community, support health and wellbeing, celebrate arts and culture, and provide opportunities for people of all ages. Gleaning Cornwall, Saltash Music, Speech and Drama Festival, and Saltash United Football Club each play an important role in enriching community life, and we are delighted to support their valuable work.”

A laptop for the charity feeding thousands each week

Gleaning Cornwall collects surplus and out-graded produce, the wonky fruit and veg that never makes it to a supermarket shelf, from farms across the county, and distributes it to people experiencing food insecurity. It supplies fresh, nutritious food every week to the Saltash Community Fridge and Larder, the Community Kitchen and Saltash Foodbank, giving ongoing support to local residents. The Town Council’s £250 grant will go towards a laptop for the charity’s administrative work, much of which is carried out by volunteers who live in Saltash.

“Our local coordinator has been struggling with an old iPad for years, and we are so grateful that she can now really show off her spreadsheet skills and better handle the local social media requirements,” said Holly Whitelaw, Gleaning Cornwall’s founder and manager. “We have grown and have to manage around 8 tonnes of produce a month, delivering for free to 160 organisations. We have nearly saved £1 million worth of vegetables since setting up 5 years ago and are extremely grateful to the Town Council for their kind support.”

Nearly 500 entries and rising

📷Credit: Mike Fatkin Media

£1,000 has gone to Saltash Music, Speech and Drama Festival, which exists to advance the education of the public in the arts through its annual festival and public performances. The 35th festival will take place at Wesley Methodist Church in 2027, run as ever by a team of volunteers, with performances from local organisations, choirs, soloists, bands, schools and college for residents and visitors to enjoy. The Town Council has previously funded the festival in 2024 and 2025. A free syllabus for the 2027 event will be available from Piglets and the Saltash Wesley Church office.

“The 2026 festival attracted nearly 500 entries, both young people and adults, and we are hoping to improve on that number in 2027,” said Phil Taylor of Saltash Music, Speech and Drama Festival. “The Town Council grant is imperative to our existence as most of our expenditure covers payment to three professional adjudicators, their accommodation, hire of Wesley Church for up to seven days and printing of the syllabus and programme. Without the Town Council grant, we would really struggle financially to put on a festival the following year.”

New kit for Kimberley Stadium

Saltash United Football Club received £989.89 to support portable training equipment for its adult and youth teams. The club says the equipment will let it train on both its main pitch and a secondary location, and open the door for younger players to use Kimberley Stadium, also known as Waterways Stadium, something it describes as an aspiration for all of its youth players.

Saltash Town Council remains committed to supporting local groups and initiatives that support health and wellbeing, promote recreation and leisure and, overall, enhance community life. Anyone wanting to apply for Community Chest or Festival Fund funding, or find out more, can visit the Town Council’s website.

For Gleaning Cornwall, the laptop is one small part of a much bigger picture. “According to Cornwall Council, last year the average income in Cornwall was £425 per week, while the national weekly average was £767,” Holly said. “We have poor, expensive to run housing, 40% of which are off mains gas, higher than average costs and often seasonal wages. The fresh, nutritious produce we glean mainly helps working families who are struggling with the cost-of-living, then the next demographic are the elderly and then the long term sick. We are currently feeding 11,000 people in need each week. If you are in a position to kindly help, our Crowdfunder will match donations.”

📷Credit: Mike Fatkin Media

📷Credit: Mike Fatkin Media

📷Credit: Mike Fatkin Media