Plain Action open day (From Salisbury Journal)

Plain Action open day

12:23pm Monday 8th October 2012 in Headlines By Hannah White

A GRANT giving group that benefits organisations across Salisbury Plain is holding its annual open day in Amesbury next Friday.

Plain Action, which has so far approved 42 grants totalling more than £1.5million to businesses, parish councils, charities and other community organisations, will celebrate the completion of four years of a five-year programme.

The activities supported by the organisation include social support for families, expansion of visitor attractions, skills training for young people, improvement of village amenities and business growth.

During the open day on October 19 there will be an opportunity to hear how Plain Action funding has helped people across Salisbury Plain.

Guests will hear from Mark Douglas-Withers, project manager for the refurbishment of Wyndham Hall, Amesbury, and cllr Graham Wright from Layers of Larkhill project, which is working with military and civilian communities looking at the history and archaeology of the area.

They will also hear from Steve Crawley from Project Inspire, which works with young people to give them confidence and qualifications to help them into employment, and Peter Beech-Allen, who will talk about the work going on to help start-up businesses.

In the afternoon, Bruce Douglas from the RDPE Team at Defra will talk about the future of funding when the Plain Action programme finishes in December next year.

People will also be able to view displays by the organisations so far funded and other organisations active in the Salisbury Plain area. Programme staff Alan Truscott and Lesley Thomas will be available throughout the day to discuss the work and achievements of Plain Action.

The event is being held at Wyndham Hall, and Plain Action chairman Fleur de Rhé-Philipe will open the doors at 10.30am.