Every year, Hertfordshire’s 78 county councillors are provided with a Locality Budget of £10,000 to spend on projects that support Hertfordshire being a county of opportunity for all; where people thrive, our places prosper, and our planet is protected.

In line with this vision to help make a cleaner, greener and healthier Hertfordshire, some of the grants made by county councillors this Spring include the following:

UK Cypriot Councillor Mario Artemi

London Autism Group Charity – Supporting Mental Health of Autistic people in crisis

Cllr Marios Artemi has awarded a grant of £500 to help to continue the commissioning of autistic-led experts who support and enhance the mental health of autistic people in crisis. This work happens online, via 1-1 or group-based Zoom appointments. The service is available for anyone living in Hertfordshire.

Cllr Artemi said: “This grant will contribute towards supporting the mental health of autistic people and their family carers within my division. I also value the work the charity is delivering to many families in Hertfordshire.”

Commonswood Nursery and Primary School – Refurbished playground

Cllr Marios Artemi has awarded a grant of £3,000 to help repair an adventure playground that needs resurfacing so the children can use it all year round. The adventure playground is intended to be used by all the Early Years children and children in Key Stage.

Cllr Artemi said: “To construct and facilitate the use of the adventure playground at the school all year round from Early Years children to children in Key Stage 1. This would benefit their mental health as well as promote the physical health of our young people!”

Herts Vision Loss – online teaching platform for all Hertfordshire schools

Cllr Marios Artemi has awarded a grant of £500 to help with online learning for all Hertfordshire schools and their pupils. Through this service HVL will provide all Hertfordshire students with important information as to how to approach and generally assist visually impaired residents of Hertfordshire.

Cllr Artemi said: “This resource will enable HVL to reach out to all Hertfordshire schools and their pupils. Through this service HVL will provide all Hertfordshire students with important information as to how to approach and generally assist visually impaired residents of my division as well as across Hertfordshire.”