Latest Awards

Some examples of recent grants that have been awarded to organisations. Many grants have also been made to individuals, whose privacy is respected.

 

Bowled over by donation. 

February 2024

Plans are already being made for the coming summer – especially at Dunstall Cricket Club. The Key Trust has awarded the club a grant of up to £7000 to replace the boundary fence at the Deer Park, in Dunstall. This has been in poor condition for some time but the covid pandemic intervened and it became difficult to get any work done. A recent arrangement with Barton Cricket Club means that there are more teams than ever who need somewhere to play – especially junior teams. The committee wanted to replace the fence but not affect the visuals and charm of the Deer Park, therefore designs will replicate the current approach.

DCC fields a number of sides catering for all ages and abilities, incorporating teams in the Derbyshire County Cricket League and a Sunday XI participating in the Lichfield & District League. The junior section runs teams between U10 and U19 age groups and includes support for Kwik Cricket and the All Stars programmes. During the summer, the club also runs a series of lunches and other social events - there is something for everyone and a warm welcome awaits anyone interested in joining. The Trustees wish the club well for the coming season.  

Lazy, hazy, crazy days… 

Dcember 2023

You’re probably already looking back wistfully at the lovely summer weekend that was the Barton Festival – or as it’s become known – the Teddy Festival. All that lovely sunshine, all those excited teddies and a general buzz of contentment around the centre of the village. The trustees of the Barton and Dunstall Key Trust were happy to contribute in the form of a grant to fund the purchase of a popcorn making machine – apparently a healthier alternative to candy floss! The grant also covered the costs of producing the photographs for the teddy passports. In case you’re not aware, every teddy, or other furry friend, has to have a passport with a photo to get access to all the teddy rides. They also have a ‘tedical’ when an x-ray is taken and their health is checked. All in the name of health and safety as we don’t want any accidents happening. Well done to all those involved in any way in organising the weekend’s activities. It was a great success.

What I did this summer….

October 2023

Georgina Campbell was awarded a grant towards an intensive two week Ancient Greek summer school in Dorset. She says: “I arrived at the JACT Greek Summer School this year as an intermediate student with prior knowledge of the basics of Ancient Greek. It is a very complex language so we learnt and revised advanced forms as well as basic syntax, cases and verbs. New vocabulary every day increased our understanding of the texts we were reading. After two weeks we were able to translate parts from Lysias, Sophocles and Sappho. There were engaging and fun lessons as well as seminars, lectures and a chance to be in a play. Aristophanes’ “The Clouds” was performed in translation and Sophocles’ “Ajax” was performed in the original Greek in the school’s outdoor Greek amphitheatre. I made lots of friends in my class, and through the different activities. It was a perfect preparation for my time at university and I am very glad that the Key Trust supported me so I could attend.”  

Jean-Marc Revill was awarded a grant to attend the World Scout Jamboree in Korea. Here’s what he has to say: “We gathered at Manchester Airport as a full unit excited for the trip we had all spent the past 3 years preparing for. Once in Korea we discovered how hot it was going to be! We began by exploring the city of Seoul, choosing to eat in the most authentic restaurants we could find outside of the touristy areas. After 3 days of familiarizing ourselves with the city and culture, we headed to the campsite in Saemangeum along with 40,000 other scouts. The campsite was massive and flooded with scouts from all over the world; meeting everyone was fantastic. On site, trading items such as neckers, woggles and any items uniquely from certain parts of the world became popular - uniting international scouts. Unfortunately, problems such as heat and an imminent typhoon meant we were evacuated off site on day 4, and stayed in Seoul where we enjoyed further exploring the city. Overall it was a fantastic experience; just not the one we'd expected.”  

George O’Brien was awarded a grant to cover his costs getting to Mount Kilimanjaro. He used this as an opportunity to raise funds for Meningitis Research Foundation. Here’s what he says: “My six-day hike up Kilimanjaro via the Machame route started with a trek through lush rainforest, surrounded by a symphony of exotic birds and dense vegetation. Days two and three presented the ascent to the Shira Plateau, where we gradually transitioned from the rainforest to the moorland zone. We gradually gained altitude allowing our bodies to adjust to the decrease in oxygen which had a few negative effects. On Day Four, the journey proceeded to Barranco Camp, with the views of the peak becoming clearer and more daunting due to the true size of the mountain coming into full view. This day ended on us ready for summit on the early morning of day five. Summit day started at midnight leaving Karanga camp and had us trek through the night under the beautiful starry night to the top for just after sunrise. A few of us summitted at around 9am, took some pictures and headed back down to summit camp whilst supporting the rest of our team. Finally, on Day 6, we descended for around three hours to the bottom of Killy where we had a few beers and celebrated our amazing adventure. This was such a life-changing experience, where the convergence of nature's beauty, physical endurance, and personal determination combined to create cherished memories that will last me a lifetime.”  

Pennies well spent

July 2023

Talking about toilets is never interesting or exciting – until you can’t find one! We’ve all had that problem and if you’re less than fully able then the struggle is a regular issue.

Holland Sports Club has continued its upgrade of facilities by installing a fully accessible toilet for use by all visitors. Access is easy as the entry is flat and there is plenty of space for wheelchair users or those who need assistance. The Key Trust was happy to support the project with a grant of £6000 as inclusivity should always be encouraged.

Barton PC welcomes bill for gates

May 2023

We’ve all watched with delight as local toddlers enjoy themselves in the Jubilee Play Area on Collinson Road Park. This was first installed in 2004 with several upgrades since. In 2010 the present arrangement of swings and climbing frames was built, and officially re-opened during a visit by HRH the Duke of Kent. Recent inspections have shown that, although the equipment is still suitable for use by the youngsters with a little maintenance, the safety surfacing is starting to break down and needs replacing. Two important items that are also being replaced are the gates, which will now be slower to close. The Trustees were very happy to award a grant of £6000 to help with the cost of refurbishment and look forward to seeing cheerful little faces in the newly refurbished play area.

HAVE A HEART…

April 2023

We are all becoming familiar with seeing defibrillator machines around. Have you noticed the one outside the Co-op? If you live on The Green, that machine is a long way off. That’s why the Trustees of the Key Trust were pleased to make a grant to Katy and Steve Boulter at The Royal Oak, helping them to purchase and install a defibrillator next to the front door of the pub. Nowadays, a defibrillator is easy to use and will even talk to you, so anyone can use it properly. The charity who are supplying the unit will be able to offer some training for those less confident. Keep your eyes on the noticeboard at the Royal Oak for details.

Heavenly music

February 2023

The beautiful Grade II* listed St Mary’s church in Dunstall was designed by Henry Clutton for Charles Arkwright, a grandson of the inventor of the spinning frame, Richard Arkwright. It was completed in 1853 after Charles’s death with money left by him for that purpose. The organ that was installed in 1853 is still in use in the church for regular services, weddings and christenings. Since it was almost probably built to Arkwright’s specification it is of historical importance.

Although the organ has been regularly tuned it has never been overhauled. The company that installed the organ, Bishop and Son, is still in existence and came and gave the organ a through inspection. Unfortunately the examination showed serious signs of wear and evidence of woodworm meaning that some serious work needed to be done. The Trustees of the Barton and Dunstall Key Trust were delighted to support the renovation of the organ with a grant of £10,000. The good news is that the work started in January 2023 but the church will be without its organ for six weeks, relying on a digital device instead. The congregation will be very much looking forward to hearing the beautiful voice of the organ again once the work is completed.  

Roped In

December/January 2023

The Holland Tug of War Club based at the sports club in Barton has always been successful in national and international championships. But did you know that they hold a Guinness World Record? Thirty members of the Holland Tug of War Club, based in Barton under Needwood, Staffordshire, England, lifted a 425 kg. (937 lb.) weight - suspended under a tug-of-war training rig - a total of 80 times in one hour on June 6, 2000. Each pull was over a distance of 6.86m. The latest name in their roll of honour is Amelia Kerry, who is competing as part of the England under-19s ladies team.

 Amelia writes ‘Tug Of War is a team building sport consisting of eight people on each team. It requires core strength, a good all-round fitness, but most importantly mental stamina, resilience, and determination. It is just as much of a mental game as it is physical. After many additional hours training and attending the subsequent selection days, I was fortunate enough to be selected to compete for the England U19s women’s team, in both the British and Irish Championships and the World Championships which was held in Holten, Netherlands. The World Championships is now an annual competition comprised of a multitude of countries from across the world. It is here all countries go head-to-head to be crowned the World Champions in different weight categories. During the competition, we persevered throughout the rounds competing against the countries Scotland, South Africa, Belgium, and the Netherlands to name but a few. My team and I were able to secure the bronze world medal, beating the Netherlands in the bronze medal pull off. This was an extraordinary experience and is one I will never forget. I would like to say a huge thank you to all those who supported me along the way. Especially the Holland sports club for continually facilitating my extensive training, as well as the Barton-under-Needwood and Dunstall Key Trust for financially supporting me to be able to have this incredible opportunity.’

The Barton and Dunstall Key Trust were delighted to support Amelia with a grant of £750 to cover travelling expenses and wish her and the rest of the England team well in future competitions.

If you’d like to know more about tug of war in Barton then contact hollandtowc@gmail.com or phone 07500352329.

Young Leaders

September 2022

Each year the Trustees of the Barton and Dunstall Key Trust take great delight in awarding leadership awards to two outstanding students at John Taylor School, and we are usually amazed at the achievements of these young people. This year is no different.

Tom Hill receives £250. He joined John Taylor at the start of sixth form and it was very clear that he was going to make a difference. Tom studies A level Biology, Chemistry, Psychology and the Extended Project Qualification and has, at the time of writing, an offer to read Medicine at the University of Birmingham. His passion when speaking about studying medicine clearly shines through. Thomas has actively engaged in work experience, including at a GP surgery where he observed home visits and clinical review meetings. His compassion and desire to help others achieve their best has been shown by his work at Camp JoJo, where he gained more understanding of the role technology can play in helping others, and further reinforced his understanding of the need for an inclusive society. His volunteering work at a vaccination centre allowed him to understand the fears and concerns of others and to empathise and reassure them. His desire to be actively involved with school life, coupled with his effective communication skills also led to his successful appointment as a head student, following a highly competitive application process. He is always willing to help others in his tutor group, whether on a personal or educational level, showing his empathy and compassion. He is a hardworking, dedicated, passionate student who will give his all. He is destined to make a difference to the world.

Aimee Cross receives £150. She has proven herself to be an extremely diligent student throughout her school career. She studies A level Geography, Biology and Chemistry and has, at the time of writing, an offer to read Biochemistry at the University of Bristol. Her dedication to developing her scientific knowledge has been evident throughout her time in the sixth form. She has completed a work placement at the Functional Gut Clinic in Cambridge where she was able to observe clinicians treat patients and was able to assist with tests, which allowed Aimee to understand how biochemistry works in a real hospital setting. In addition to gaining practical experience Aimee also completed the University of Oxford Biomedical and Medical Sciences study day where she was able to listen to lectures including a particularly pertinent one on the positive roles of bacteria within the body which has shifted her mindset about this topic. Within school, Aimee also contributes to the science department for example by tutoring Biology and Chemistry to year 9 pupils during her year 12 studies and completing the Biology Olympiad. Outside of her academic interests, Aimee also secured her role as a sixth form head student in charge of fundraising and community engagement. Aimee is also a keen sports person who has captained the rounders; netball and cricket teams; plays netball for a club outside of school and helped lead a multi-skills sports festival for primary school children. Aimee demonstrates exceptional ability, dedication and commitment to all facets of her life and she has a great future ahead of her.

Chairman Jacqui Jones said ‘It was great to be at the JTHS awards ceremony to see so many talented youngsters, both performing for the evening and winning prizes. The Key Trust Leadership Award winners achieved and gave so much during their time at JTHS and both were deserving winners of the award’. All the Trustees wish them and their fellow students every success for the future.

Ranging Far and Wide

July/August 2022

Three members of the 1st Needwood Rangers have been selected for an international trip to Kenya next February. Isla Hanstock, Polly Hudson and Emily Thompson will be travelling with a group of Guides and Rangers to a remote village near Mombasa to take part in a service project at the school – a school that was built with money that GirlGuiding raised in 2009. They will be working with children aged 3 to 15, teaching them new crafts and games, and also painting and redecorating the classrooms. They will also have an opportunity to visit an area around Mombasa. Polly, Emily and Isla are currently taking part in meetings to plan the trip and gain new skills that they will need for the trip such as learning Swahili, practising songs and crafts, and brushing up on their painting and decorating techniques. As well as passing a rigorous selection process, the girls have had to raise £2600 and the trustees were delighted to be able to help with this by offering a grant of £500 each. They have already worked hard on their own fundraising by babysitting, selling lottery tickets, a sponsored rowing challenge, selling unwanted items on Ebay and selling a recipe book that they helped to create. The trustees wish Emily, Isla and Polly a wonderful, inspiring, safe trip.

Grant for St James Church Audiovisual Equipment

May 2022

We all have technology in our homes that became obsolete the moment we bought it! The television won’t talk to the sound bar because it hasn’t got the right bit on the end of the wire, or your version of Windows is so out of date that it won’t work with your favourite program any more. That’s the problem that St James parish church is having with their audiovisual equipment used during worship and other events. Because it’s been added to bit by bit, it’s not very efficient nor is it easy to use. The cost to upgrade the technology to something modern and intuitive to use is quite significant and the trustees of the Barton and Dunstall Key trust are happy to award a grant of £5000 towards the bill. Within the next few months the church hopes to have new projectors and screens so those sitting in the side aisles can see exactly what’s going on in the main body of the church. The screens can also be used to show material available on the internet making activities visually more interesting. It is hoped that a sound desk will eventually be installed to improve the quality of sound from the music group that plays in some services. The vicar of St James, Rev Andy Simpson, said ‘With help from the Key Trust we hope to be able to present more appealing services and activities with the up to date equipment’.

New York, New York! It’s a helluva trip!

April 2022

Any trip to New York is special but the Revill brothers are looking forward to something spectacular in July. Tom and Jean -Marc will be travelling to the big apple for a three week trip with fellow musicians from their music school Hot House Music in Derby.

Both brothers will be part of ‘Saxophonix’, which is a saxophone only band, planning to play at some of the iconic sights in New York such as Times Square, Central Park, Empire State Building and many more. The group specializes in playing while walking through crowds – a kind of mobile busking. If you were in Ashbourne for the Christmas Lantern Procession in early December 2021 then you will have heard and seen them. They have also performed on the big stage at Darley Park for several years

Tom and Jean-Marc will also be playing in the evenings as part of the big band ‘Screaming Kicks’. The big band ensemble is designed to provide a home for the very best young musicians who are looking to develop and stretch their musical abilities. They rehearse and perform everything from Swing to Latin with a handful of vocals in there too. Each term there are special guest artists who visit for master-classes and clinics. It will be a real treat to play in some renowned clubs such as Birdland Jazz Club, Dizzy’s Club and Nublu – probably well into the night or early morning!

The trustees were delighted to support Tom and Jean-Marc with a grant of £1000 each towards this truly unique experience. If you want to know more then look up Hot House Derby online and you’ll see what they get up to. And if you get a chance to see Screaming Kicks in action – then go. You’ll be in for a fun evening.

Knights, a Bishop and a cheque, mate.

November 2021

Anyone who owns a property knows about kerb appeal. How the entrance to your home looks is important, especially if you are trying to sell your property. The Fabric Group that looks after St James’ Parish Church felt that the Main Street entrance to the church grounds was ‘an unwelcoming disgrace’ especially since the Parish Council has made the village centre so attractive.

The stone gate posts had become unsafe having been hit by vehicles and cracked by metal expansion over the years. The main metal gates and the public footpath gate were in poor condition and in need of renovation. It was time to call in some specialist craftsmen to replace the stone posts and to strip down and repaint the metal gates before re-hanging.

The Key Trust was happy to support the project with a donation of £9788. The work was done by local contractors Knights Building & Restoration Ltd using stone quarried from Derbyshire and was finished in time for the Barton Teddy Bear Festival in September. The Bishop of Stafford, Matthew Parker, came along in all his finery and officially dedicated the posts and gates after the Sunday service, even bringing his own teddy to join in the fun. The lovely new gateway to the church grounds definitely adds to the attractive area around the church in the village centre.

Grant for Bowls Club renovation

October 2021

There has been a bowls club in Barton since 1927, although the first games weren’t played there as there wasn’t a green ready to play on. The creation of the bowling green cost £116 – which is the approximate equivalent of £6500 today. Perhaps they got a grant from a local charity for this?

In 1968 the new pavilion was built by Mr S.W.Clarke and he officially opened it on December 14th. It has been in full use ever since then not just as a bowling club but as a social club adding to the life of the village. It is the headquarters of the local branch of the Royal British Legion.

The recent Covid lockdowns could have destroyed the club with little or no income but the members decided to take advantage of the closure and completely renovate the interior. The result of all the work done by members is that the inside now looks fresh and up to date. The Key Trust was very happy to support the renovation with a grant of just over £11,000. This money was spent on the new floor and carpet, and on some of the upholstery.

One result of this work is that the membership has been boosted to 400. At a low point in the recent past the membership was as low as 67. There’s a rumour that ‘The Bowler’, which is the name of the bar in the club, has recently been used in Carling adverts under the headline ‘support your local’. Have you seen it?

The bowling is, of course, the reason for the club and there are many players of all ages with seven teams competing in various competitions. The club also hosts county competitions. If you are interested in trying bowls then pop down to the club on Dunstall Road for further information and you’ll be made welcome.

Well done to everyone at Barton under Needwood Bowls and Social Club for your hard work in keeping this important venue going. We look forward to hearing about your centenary celebrations!

Key Trust puts money in bank

July/August 2021

When the pond was dug in Barton in the 1700s, it was functional only, being used as a watering hole by the local farmers for their animals. Nowadays, it is very much a recreational amenity used by village residents for fishing, wildlife watching and teddy bear terrorising. As such, it needs to be kept safe and clean. It was the smell that drew the attention of the ’fish pond councillor’ Jeanette Taylor. Upon investigation it was discovered that the old railway sleepers that had been used to shore up part of the bank over 40 years ago were crumbling and blocking the drain from the pond to the brook.

Jeanette headed a campaign to raise money to remove the poplar trees, whose roots were damaging the bank, and make the bank safe for pedestrians again. The Barton and Dunstall Key Trust were approached and were happy to approve a grant of £10,000 which, along with funds raised from other sources, meant the work was able to start quickly. The Key Trust also covered a shortfall of £1500 when extra work was required.

Gabions (metal cages) have been filled with rocks to stop the bank from slipping again, with ready-planted coir rolls placed in front to give a quick start to plant growth at the edge of the pond. Native trees (oak, alder and rowan) have been planted and wildflower seeds sown on the bank around the trees. Thanks to the hard work from everyone involved, it should look good and last another 40 years or more.

New doors for a new start

June 2021

The Methodist Church at the top of Crowberry Lane was built in 1828 and has had several alterations in that time. A porch was added, the balcony was removed, extra rooms were added at the back of the church, the pulpit and communion rail were removed, the porch was replaced, a vestry added and a lovely modern kitchen was added.

If you’ve parked at the village hall car park then you will have driven past the Methodist Church and seen its most recent addition in the form of a striking oak extension.

This forms a porch to take you straight into the Church rooms. Users of the church with wheelchairs or pushchairs will no longer have to negotiate the tight turns previously required. Extra storage space has been created by the building work too. This work was only made possible by the generous grant of £15000 from the Key Trust, with other funds coming from the local Methodist Circuit, donations from church members and church funds. Reverend Helen Harrell said “We are looking forward to welcoming our congregation and other church users back to the buildings as soon as it’s safe to do so. This new extension demonstrates our keenness to make the church as friendly and welcoming as possible for all users.”

This sporting life!

April 2021

Barton under Needwood is unusual in having a multi-sport club right in the centre of the village. Many local villages have a football club or tennis club or cricket club, each with their own grounds. In Barton, these three sports joined together in 1963 to form Holland Sports Club. The club was officially opened in 1965 by a member of the Holland family, Mr Sadler, on land given to Barton Parish Council by Mr W N Holland who had inherited the Holland estate upon the death of Miss Holland in 1961. Other sports have affiliated to HSC since then, including hockey, tug of war, netball, rugby, pigeon flying, walking football and touch rugby.

The HSC committee have been successful in developing the use of its facilities for members and the wider community but this results in the current lounge becoming crowded on occasions, with the kitchen area pushed to its limits. The answer has now arrived in the form of a modular building with a catering kitchen able to host members’ activities and be a source of revenue in the future. The trustees of the Barton and Dunstall Key Trust were proud to support this application with £30,000, to add to the monies from club savings. This function room is sure to become a welcome asset to the HSC and a valuable addition to the facilities of the village. .