Meridian (West) Projects

Meridian West transmits to nearly four million people living in towns and villages throughout Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Wiltshire and parts of East and West Sussex.

Over the past five years of the People’s Millions competition we have seen some great projects in the region. We have seen new sensory gardens, accessible playgrounds, an artificial caving complex, an IT centre, a mobile baby cafe, a climbing wall and many more.

Modernise Scout Headquarters

This project will replace the existing leaking roof so that a range of organisations can use the building. The building is not only used by the Scouting Association both domestically and internationally but also by the local cameo club, youth groups, the City Council and British Canoe Union training centre. These groups have highlighted the problem and therefore are fully supportive of the project. The applicant believes that once the problems with the roof have been fixed these groups will use the building more frequently, especially in winter, and other groups will start to do so. The project will benefit 1,000 people.

Tower Square Regeneration

The project will involve the regeneration of the Tower Square by the Town Council which will involve the refurbishment of a small area of public space in the town centre which is currently the site of some late night anti-social behaviour. The Town Council will be working in partnership with Carterton Fast Forward Environment Group which works under the auspices of the Town Council. The project will involve improved pedestrian area, the inclusion of a local heritage related focal point developed with local volunteers and professional arts, improved seating and bike racks, and landscaping of the area.

Kick Start

The project will refurbish and fully equip a new study suite for reluctant learners. The project will provide a new education suite. This suite will provide a focus to education and employment training opportunities for young people aged 14-19 years old that have been unsuccessful in mainstream education. The project will benefit approximately 1500 people. The centre is currently based in an inappropriate building within a local school. The refurbishment will allow activities to take place in a dedicated building which will bring an increased sense of ownership to the beneficiaries.

Bembridge Community Minibus Project

The proposed project will purchase a new minibus, fitted with facilities for transport of disabled people. The Bembridge Friendship Circle wish to replace their existing bus which is almost 20 years old and in a poor state of repair. It was provided specifically for the benefit of older people in the community. The current project aims to extend the successful minibus project to the wider community. A wider range of volunteers will be recruited through the pruchase of a new bus which is more driver-friendly. This, coupled with the wider pool of potential baneficiaries in the community represents an expansion of the service to meet the needs as there is more people than can currently be accommodated.

Simon Says Child Bereavement Support

The project will extend the child bereavement suuport services the group currently offer into the West Hampshire area. The project will benefit an estimated 1,600 children who have suffered bereavement.

Put a hop, step and jump into Bicester athletics

The project aims to make the long, high and triple jumps, discus and javelin run-up areas into all weather surfaces at Bicester Community College sports field. This new facility would be available to all the children at the college, their feeder schools and Athletic Club members. In total 2330 young people will benefit from the project.

Maximising The Longridge Magic

The project will construct a high ropes course that will provide a link across the river from the group's main site to an island that is used for adventure activities and an adventure playground for younger children who will not be able use the high ropes course. The outcome of the project will be to provide affordable activities and facilities for young people all year round, therefore increasing the usage of the site especially in the winter months. The group estimates the number of beneficiaries as 27,000.

Skateboard Park

The project will utilise a piece of land to create a designated play area and skateboard park for the young people of the area. There will be an estimated 2,000 beneficiaries. The one year grant would pay for the installation of the skateboard park.

Making Some Quiet Time (MS Quiet Time)

The project would involve the extension to their current building which would provide a quiet room and garden area for people with MS within the Osborne centre. This quiet centre would enable people with MS to have access to an area to read or rest away from the daily activities of the day centre.

Electric Lift for the Farmoor Reservoir Pontoon

The project will provide an electric lift and walkway approach for the use of disabled and other users, to gain access to a pontoon when the water level is too low for ramp access. The project will benefit approximately 200 disabled sailors.