Five local good causes have received a Christmas Bonus of awards totalling £1,800 to support their work, after the latest round of donations from Foster’s Fund, a scheme set up by Torbay’s MP Kevin Foster.
Foster’s Fund is based on a pledge made by Torbay’s MP when he was first elected to parliament in 2015. He pledged to not only oppose the 10% pay rise proposed for MPs at the time, but to reject it via donations to local charities if IPSA implemented it despite his objections. Kevin renewed this pledge at the last General Election in December 2019 and has promised to continue Foster’s Fund until at least May 2024. Since 2009 MPs have not voted on their own pay, with Kevin also adding this year’s 2.7% rise for MPs (Determined by IPSA, the independent body who decides MPs’ pay) to the amount donated each month given his opposition to it during a cost-of-living crisis.
The latest round of awards saw the following donations made: The Haven Torbay (£500), Catholic Children’s Society (£500), Phoenix Rising (£300), Feline Network Cat Rescue (£300) and the Friends of Torwood Costal Area (£200). The five projects supported range from training for staff helping those in need to works to improve the natural environment improvement at Beacon Cove and Peaked Tor.
Kevin said: “As Christmas approaches it is great to support those who help make our bay a better place. These five groups represent the range of work done to help support people and improve our environment, hence I was delighted to recognise them with an award from Foster’s Fund.”
Details about Foster’s Fund, along with details of how to apply, can be found by visiting www.kevinjfoster.com/fosters-fund or by telephoning 01803 214 989. By law any award from Foster’s Fund must be paid into the bank account of a registered charity. To be eligible for Foster’s Fund the project being funded must be based, or aiming to do most of its work, in Kevin’s Constituency.
ENDS
