by Rebecca Hannant
The newly formed Town SMART initiative has received its first donations from two local organisations.
Following the launch of the town clean-up operation, Withernsea RNLI and the Humber Coastguard Association have donated a combined £1,250 to help establish the project for the future.
Its founder and chairman, Councillor Jon Dimberline, said Withernsea RNLI’s operations manager Darren Hickey first approached him, explaining that their team had a separate fund, raised by staff and volunteers, intended for supporting community projects.
Cllr Dimberline said: “We were contacted by Darren, who mentioned this donation. I was astounded when they said it was for £1,000.
“They said they felt that Town SMART was doing a great thing for the community as it builds.
“It was our first donation, so we are very grateful, and it will make a huge difference. It means that, for the next couple of years, we’ve got money to cover us for insurance.”
Darren Hickey added: “Withernsea Lifeboat has had such amazing support from the town of Withernsea that it’s been humbling.
“We decided that some of the proceeds of our evening with the RNLI should go back to the town.
“It was a unanimous decision that Town SMART would get the donation as we really like what they are trying to achieve. They, along with so many other groups in Withernsea, truly make this town great.”
The Humber Coastguard Association also stepped in, donating £250 from its separate community funding pot.
Terry Bearpark, secretary of the Humber Coastguard Association, said: “Although our primary role is to help serving and retired coastguards and their families, we are always pleased to support the local community in any way we can.
“Town SMART East Yorkshire is doing a great job for the area, and so we are happy to help it and its members.”
Cllr Dimberline expressed his gratitude, saying: “To be thought of by so many local people is brilliant.
“I am shocked that people and organisations would think about us with Town SMART being such a new operation, but these funds will make a huge difference to what we do.
“It will help us to buy more equipment, it’ll buy us more hi-vis, and it’ll buy us more gloves, spades, cutters and all sorts of things.
“It gives us a platform to work and, most importantly, it gives us the impetus to go forwards after we have realised that there are people who appreciate what we do, and they’re prepared to give us amazing donations.
“Let’s not forget that the Coastguards and the RNLI are the last line of defence when something goes wrong on the coast, when somebody’s stuck on a cliff, when a boat’s capsized, or when somebody’s got washed into the sea.
“They are the last line of defence, and they do a very good but dangerous job, and for them to support us is a great thing.”
To support Town SMART, visit gofundme.com/f/support-townsmart.
