Latest News re Grants.

As members of the Society will by now be aware, I have applied for several grants in order to provide better research facilities for the society at the South Cheshire Studies Centre at Alsager.

The applications for grants have been made to Cheshire County Council, Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council, Congleton Borough Council and the Heritage Fund of the National Lottery. The total being applied for amounts to about £20,000. This is for a variety of items (read the latest journal for more details).

I am pleased to announce that I have today (Monday 17th September 2001) received confirmation from Congleton Borough Council, that they have awarded the society with the full amount requested. That is £2,895.

Whilst the request was for the money to be split up to help purchase a variety of items, the award is for the purchase of the National Indexes of Births, Deaths and Marriages on Microfiche. This is something that I am very grateful for and I certainly will not quibble over.

The cheque for £2,895 should be with us by the end of October, at which time a large part of the BMD Indexes will be purchased. Reports will have to be submitted at intervals, to show how the grant has benefitted the society. I will be completing the reports, which will be based on what use the society members make of the Indexes.

News of the other grants is still awaited.

Will all members please help the society to build up the facilities at the Studies Centre, by completing the form which accompanied the latest journal and donate what ever you can. A suggested amount was £30 over 2 years, which would have paid for the complete index - if every member donated. I hesitate to say that this amount is not now necessary - due to the grant. However, any amount, no matter how small will be welcome, but the more that you can donate, then the more facilities we can provide.

Needless to say, that donations of money or items for the Centre, from non members, would also be welcome. Use of the Centre's facilities would be made available to donors.

Peter Chadwick