Five local good causes have received an Easter Boost as awards totalling £2,350 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 last year’s 2.7% rise for MPs (Determined by IPSA, the independent body who decides MPs’ pay) to the amount donated each month.
The latest round of awards saw the following donations made: Unleashed Theatre Company (£1,000), The Thrive Project (£500), Tuesday Tea Times (£300), St Martin’s Cooking Heroes (£300) & Cycle Torbay (£250). The five projects supported range from urgent roofing repairs at the historic Royal Lyceum Theatre to helping support active travel for those on a budget.
Kevin said: “These five groups are all doing great work to support our local community, so I am delighted to be able to support them from my 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##
For more information please contact Kevin Foster on 01803 214 989
Notes to Editors
- Foster’s Fund Spring 2023:
The following donations were made on Friday 31st March 2023:
- £1,000 – Unleashed Theatre Company – contribution towards repairs in the auditorium and projection room.
- £500 – The Thrive Project – contribution towards items and refurbishment needed for a Sunday Games Club.
- £300 – Tuesday Tea Times – Supporting monthly meetings and activities at All Saint’s, Babbacombe.
- £300 – St Martin’s Cooking Heroes – Project to help local families with the cost of living including how to cook healthy meals, teach budgeting and growing your own fruit and veg.
- £250 – Cycle Torbay – help to fix bikes and thrive through active travel.
(Some of the cheques were made payable to Torbay Community Development Trust who are supporting the projects of the group concerned. This is because payments from Foster’s Fund must be made into the bank account of a registered charity.)
- Photograph:
The attached photograph was taken at Kevin’s East St office in Torquay, with representatives of 4 groups receiving awards as he handed cheques to them (The Thrive Project received theirs separately). You are welcome to reproduce it.
- Funding:
“Foster’s Fund” is an account held by the CAF with donations equivalent to the 10% MPs pay rise and 2.7% pay rise being deducted from Kevin’s salary each month. By law funds in the account can only be released to a registered charity and are not owned by Kevin.
