We are pleased to announce the recipients of Round 3 of our Grants for Organisations programme, awarding over £80,000 to eight organisations delivering projects that will strengthen wellbeing, inclusion and opportunity across Chippenham.
Together these initiatives are expected to benefit well over 7000 local people, including children and families, individuals experiencing financial hardship and the wider community through education, arts, culture and inclusive events.
This latest round reflects CBLC’s ongoing commitment to improving quality of life across the town, particularly for those facing disadvantage, by investing in projects that reduce inequality, promote wellbeing and bring communities together.
Our CEO Beth Gardner said,
We are proud to support such a diverse and impactful group of organisations in this funding round. From early years support and financial resilience to education, arts and community events, these projects highlight the strength and dedication of those working to support people across Chippenham.
We look forward to seeing the positive impact of these initiatives in the months and years ahead.”
Funded projects will begin or continue delivery throughout 2026 and beyond, with several receiving multi-year support to ensure long-term sustainability and lasting impact for Chippenham residents.
Springboard Opportunity Group is a specialist pre-school in North Wiltshire, providing a safe, nurturing, and stimulating group environment that offers vital support for children with significant developmental delays, communication difficulties, and complex needs. Every child at Springboard experiences challenges with speech, language, or communication, often alongside additional medical, sensory, or developmental conditions.
This funding will enable Springboard to invest in specialist staff training time of 10 hours per week across the academic year to embed a “total communication” approach throughout all sessions.
Training will focus on the use of different communication systems to help children with a range of learning and speech difficulties to communicate. Working with Speech & Language Therapists, training will focus on Visuals, Makaton, Communication Boards, Grids and Objects of Reference, ensuring each child can access communication methods suited to their individual needs.
Springboard’s greatest need is investment in its highly skilled workforce. This grant will help strengthen staff expertise, improve retention, and ensure consistent, high-quality support for local children and families. The project is expected to benefit around 120 children, as well as their families and the wider early years network.
Monkton Park Primary School has been awarded £1,442 to deliver anti-racism workshops in partnership with Show Racism the Red Card.
The project will provide high-quality, interactive workshops for all Key Stage 2 pupils, a whole-school assembly reaching approximately 260 pupils and a dedicated training session for teachers and staff. The workshops will explore what racism is, why it is harmful, and how young people can actively challenge discrimination and promote inclusion.
By bringing in external specialists, the school aims to give greater depth and significance to this important topic than can typically be achieved through classroom teaching alone. The learning will be embedded into the PSHE curriculum, with resources and knowledge shared across staff to ensure long-term impact.
In addition, Monkton Park Primary School has been awarded £1,400 to enhance its annual Science Week. This funding will enable the school to bring in expert external providers to deliver engaging, hands-on learning for all pupils.
The programme will include specialist falconry sessions from Birdman Falconry, giving children the opportunity to learn about food chains, habitats, adaptations and the impact of human activity on the natural environment through close interaction with birds of prey. Real-life animal handling experiences with Zoolab will broaden pupils’ understanding of animals, their habitats and their care.
The programme is designed to inspire curiosity and interest in STEM subjects, particularly among children who may not otherwise have access to such experiences, aiming to provide equitable opportunities and enrich learning beyond the national curriculum.
Chippenham CAP Centre has been awarded £30,000 over three years (£10,000 per year) to continue delivering its essential services to people experiencing financial hardship.
CAP offers a person-centred approach to debt advice, combining practical financial support with life skills training and ongoing, face-to-face guidance. The ability to deliver in-person debt advice in Chippenham is vital, enhancing local provision, particularly where demand exceeds capacity or where more holistic support is required.
Each year, CAP supports around 400 individuals through a combination of debt advice, drop-in sessions, money coaching courses and life skills groups. Its work extends beyond financial guidance, helping individuals build confidence, resilience and long-term stability.
The grant will contribute towards core operating costs, including staffing, training, course delivery and outreach activity such as drop-in sessions at Chippenham Jobcentre. Multi-year funding from our charity will provide much-needed stability, enabling CAP to plan and secure additional funding sources.
Corsham Windband Association has been awarded £8,310 over three years to support instrumental music tuition at St Peter’s Primary School. This includes £6,210 in year one for instruments, music books and tuition, followed by £1,050 per year in years two and three for continued tuition.
The project delivers whole-class instrumental lessons for Year 4 at St Peter’s Primary School, ensuring that all children can participate regardless of background or prior experience. A key element of the funding is the purchase of instruments, allowing pupils to take them home to practise – something not previously possible with hired equipment.
This approach helps normalise music education as part of everyday learning and builds confidence. Following their initial year of tuition, pupils are invited to join beginner wind bands, creating a clear pathway for continued musical development.
With reductions in statutory music funding, Corsham Windband Association is playing an important role in filling a growing gap in provision.
Pride in Chippenham CIC has been awarded £3,000 to deliver PrideFest 2026: Picnic in the Park and Chippenham Carnival Association has also been awarded £3,000 to support the delivery of Chippenham Carnival 2026.
Pride in Chippenham exists to celebrate, support, and uplift the LGBTQIA+ community in Chippenham and the wider Wiltshire community. This year’s festival will build on the success of their inaugural 2025 PrideFest, which brought together residents, local organisations and visitors to celebrate diversity and inclusion in Chippenham.
Taking place in Island Park, Picnic in the Park will be a free family-friendly event and the central daytime hub of PrideFest. It will offer a welcoming and inclusive space for people of all ages. The event will feature arts, performances and interactive activities designed to celebrate and support the LGBTQIA+ community.
The picnic is designed to be accessible, particularly for families, young people and those new to Pride events. It will also include neuroinclusive elements, such as quieter spaces and wellbeing-focused areas. The summer event will play an important role in increasing visibility, fostering inclusion, and creating a sense of belonging within the local community.
Chippenham Carnival marks the revival of a historic community tradition, with the 2026 carnival acting as a proof-of-concept for future years. The programme will include a town parade, performances in Island Park, and a wide range of opportunities for residents to participate as performers, volunteers, or attendees.
The carnival is designed as a whole-town initiative, encouraging participation from schools, community groups, businesses and residents of all ages. By lowering barriers to involvement and fostering collaboration, Chippenham Carnival 2026 aims to be a unifying, inclusive celebration that will brings people together before, during and after the event, strengthening social bonds and local pride across the town.
Café Spero has been awarded £13,800 over three years (£4,600 per year) to strengthen its food bank and community café provision.
The organisation currently supports around 30 households per food bank session, providing free food and essential items to those in need. Funding will enable the continuation of fresh food provision, including fruit, vegetables and other nutritious staples which are often financially unsustainable. Their Café provides excellent food at reduced prices for all and free of charge if anyone is in real need.
Both the food bank and café serve as social hubs where people can connect, reduce isolation, and build a strong sense of belonging. Visitors have the chance to make new friends, gain confidence and learn new skills through volunteering opportunities. Outdoor seating will further support mental and physical wellbeing by encouraging social interaction in a safe and relaxed environment.
Café Spero provides a warm and welcoming space for all. During colder months, residents can enjoy hot drinks and meals in a safe environment. The food bank ensures families have access to healthy, nutritious food while alleviating financial hardship and helping reduce social isolation. Many attendees are on low incomes, receive benefits or have disabilities, making these services a vital lifeline. Our funding will help ensure the sustainability and growth of these services.
Chippenham Museum has been awarded £3,000 to deliver the Brief Lives community creative writing project.
Marking 400 years since the birth of Chippenham-born writer John Aubrey, the project will engage school pupils and the wider community in creative writing activities that capture contemporary life in the town.
Workshops will be delivered in schools by a specialist creative writer, supported by teaching resources to enable ongoing engagement. Participants will be encouraged to write about people who have had a meaningful impact on their lives, creating a modern-day “snapshot” of Chippenham in 2026.
The resulting work will be published and preserved within the museum’s collection, creating a lasting record for future generations while encouraging creativity, reflection and connection to local history.
CBLC is proud to support these organisations and looks forward to seeing the positive impact of their work unfold over the coming years.
Find Out More
To learn more about these projects or to get involved, please visit the organisations’ websites and/or social media channels:
- Springboard Opportunity Group
- Chippenham CAP Centre
- Corsham Windband Association
- Pride in Chippenham CIC
- Chippenham Carnival Association
- Café Spero
- Chippenham Museum
Our first deadline for our Grants for Organisations programme is Monday 1st June. Find out more:
