BASC’s Wiltshire social committee has launched a new grant scheme aimed at getting young people involved in conservation activities.
The BASC Wiltshire Conservation and Young Shots Fund was officially launched by North Wiltshire MP James Gray at the Wiltshire Game & Country Fair.
It is now open to applications to fund small-scale conservation projects within the county.
Robin Marshall-Ball, a member of BASC Council and chairman of the BASC Wiltshire social committee, said: “The committee was established last year to provide social events for BASC members in Wiltshire outside the shooting seasons.
“Although we are not a fundraising group, game suppers, clay shoots and other events we have organised have made a profit and we decided to plough this back into the county with this new scheme. We now welcome applications from BASC members, youth groups and local community groups. One of our main aims is to get young people involved in practical hands-on conservation activities in the countryside.”
Launching the scheme, James Gray MP said: “Country sports and conservation go hand-in-hand in rural Wiltshire and this new initiative will encourage more people to become actively involved in our county.”
David Gervers, director of BASC South West, said: “This fund is a great example of what can be achieved by BASC members, staff and supporters working together at a grass-roots level. The opportunity to support a wide range of small-scale conservation and other projects is exciting and we look forward to talking to any groups in the county who might have a suitable idea – not just the shooting fraternity.”
For more information, email southwest@0ld.basc.org.uk
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