Charities benefit thanks to record-breaking Littlehampton Bonfire Night

Even during the troubled economic climate, Littlehampton Bonfire Society’s October spectacular raised an impressive £9,200 – the largest sum amassed by any carnival or bonfire society in the county.

Now, five worthy groups in the area have taken a slice of the generous donations during the evening’s celebrations.

Arun Co-ordinated Community Transport, the Littlehampton Swimming Club, the 5th Littlehampton Sea Scout Group, the Rustington District Guides and St John Ambulance have each received a cheque for £1,300 to help improve their services and facilities, from the society.

The Sea Scouts will use their donation to replace stolen canoes which will be made available to other neighbouring organisations, too.

Arun District councillor and group scout leader, Tony Squires, praised the generosity of all those involved in donating the record-breaking sum.

He said: “Thank-you seems such an inadequate way of expressing our appreciation for the Littlehampton Bonfire Society’s amazing donation to us.”

Rustington District Guides will use their charitable windfall to complete much-needed renovation works to the group’s headquarters, while Arun Co-ordinated Community Transport, based at the Dairy Centre, in Church Street, Littlehampton, will spend its £1,3000 on helping to maintain transport links for some of the area’s most vulnerable and disabled residents.

Denise Hunter, of Littlehampton Swimming Club, said the money would be used to buy computer software to help organise more swimming galas to generate extra income for the group, which had to pay the highest pool hire charges in Sussex.

The Littlehampton Quadrilateral Division of St John Ambulance will be purchasing three items of equipment for use in the community with its share of the collection.

Other donations made by the society benefited various charities and good causes who assisted with Bonfire Night. Members also delivered food parcels for elderly and housebound residents, during the festive period.

Charities and good causes in the area are now invited to apply to become beneficiaries of the street collection at this year’s 60th anniversary bonfire celebrations on Saturday, October 27.

Bonfire society secretary Richard Cooper said: “We are aware that many organisations are finding fund-raising for their particular projects very difficult in the current economic climate.

“We are proud that, despite ever-increasing costs of staging our event, every penny of our collection goes to the charities and good causes we support.

“We believe the fact that the collection directly benefits local organisations is a major contributory factor to the success of the annual bonfire night collections.”

Applicants must state how much funding they are seeking, what it will be used for and how it will benefit the community,

Applications must be in writing to Richard at 46, Kent Road, Littlehampton, BN17 6LQ or by e-mail to [email protected] and must be received by the closing date of Saturday, June 16.