A Birmingham based dance group has benefited from one of the first two grants to be handed out by the Ronnie Bowker Foundation Fund administered by Birmingham and Black Country Community Foundation.
Tru Street dance group has received £2,000 from the foundation fund to put towards its latest production.
The group, which is based at the Sticky Dance Studio in Digbeth, runs open classes where everyone regardless of age, race or dance ability is invited to take part.
A second grant of £2,500 has been made to Marie Curie as a contribution to the Big Build appeal in the West Midlands.
The money will be put towards new training and meeting spaces at a new £7 million hospice in Solihull.
The Ronnie Bowker Foundation Fund was set up in the memory ofMr Bowker, the former managing partner for Ernst & Young in Birmingham, who died in 2010.
Grants are given out to support community and voluntary groups working in Birmingham and the wider area, with a particular focus on arts, culture, education and training.
So far fundraising events including a sponsored cycle and a charity ball have taken place, as well as a number of donations which have added to the fund.
A second sponsored event is planned for later this year when people from Ernst & Young throughout the Midlands will be hitting gyms across the city in an attempt to run, cycle and row ‘around the world’. Mark Minihane, Ernst & Young’s sponsor partner for the Ronnie Bowker Foundation Fund, said: “We are delighted to be in a position to hand out the first grants from the fund and believe that both of these groups are well deserving.
“They both demonstrate a focus on the arts, culture, education and training which were all close to Ronnie’s heart. Hopefully these grants will make a difference to those directly involved and the wider community.”
The next round of grants will be made in September.
Anyone interested in applying should complete an ‘Expression of Interest’ form at www.bbccf.org.uk/about-us/our-donor-partners/ronnie-bowker-foundation-fund.
