A CHESTER village charity has been awarded a £2,000 grant – and is in the running for the chance to increase it to £3,000.

Barrowmore was awarded the fund from the Cadent Foundation after being nominated and voted for by Cadent employees in the North West.

The charity, which provides supported accommodation for vulnerable people, has been shortlisted to receive a share of a £25,000 grant fund in the second round of the Cadent Foundation’s ‘Connecting Colleagues, Customers and Communities’ initiative, which was first launched last year.

The Cadent Foundation is funded by local gas network Cadent, and employees across the North West were asked to nominate local charities which were then shortlisted to go forward to a public vote.

The final stage is now under way with Cadent engineers equipped with information and material to allow customers to submit a vote and find out more about the individual charities.

In the first funding round, £25,000 was awarded to 15 charities across the North West including Halton Haven Hospice in Runcorn, Steve Prescott Foundation in Warrington and the Oasis Centre for Young People in Ellesmere Port.

Julia Dwyer, director of the Cadent Foundation, said: “The ‘Connecting Colleagues, Customers and Communities’ initiative has been a fantastic success as it allows Cadent customers and colleagues to make a real difference in their local community by nominating and voting for charities which are close to their hearts.

"We had a huge response from the public in the first round with more than 1,000 votes cast – and we already look set to far exceed that number this time around.

“We’ve seen first-hand what a huge difference this funding can make to local charities, especially after the last 18 months. Charities like these play a vital role in in our society and we’re delighted to be able to offer our support to help them continue their great work.”

Set within 85 acres of parklands, Barrowmore offers a variety of accommodation options for vulnerable people, from 24/7 supported accommodation to short term welfare breaks and interim move-on properties for those able to manage a more independent lifestyle.

The charity also works in partnership with organisations to support residents with personal development through work placements and training courses.

Barrowmore CEO, Patrick Haycock, said: “We’d like to thank Cadent employees and customers for the nomination, we’re thrilled to receive this grant from the Cadent Foundation.

"Should we be eligible for the full £3,000, this will go towards taking the residents on holiday. We have 42 residents in Barrowmore House, 14 independent bungalows and six disabled staff, their favourite place is Porthmadog which they have been unable to go to due to the restrictions.”

The Cadent Foundation supports projects that help people living in vulnerable situations and energy poor communities; protect and preserve the natural environment and support in creating a sustainable energy future for all. More information can be found at www.cadentfoundation.com