SCHOOLS in Clevedon could benefit from free sessions at a sports facility thanks to a new scheme created to encourage more use of the town’s businesses.

CommunityConnect has been set up to encourage people to spend their money with companies in Clevedon and, in return, they will give something back to individuals, organisations and causes in need of help or support.

Created by Ed Dench at Triangle Telecom, in Hill Road, CommunityConnect will see businesses involved given promotion on the scheme’s website and through a free wifi network to be created in Clevedon’s town centre.

The Times is also working in partnership with the scheme to promote some of the good deeds being done by those involved in return for the promotion.

Some of the first to sign-up include The Hand Stadium in Davis Lane, the home of Clevedon Town Football Club. When someone books to use the club’s private function facilities and quotes CommunityConnect when making the booking, the club will give two hours of use on its artificial pitch to a local school.

Another business which has joined CommunityConnect is Celebrant Occasions, which helps organise ceremonies such as weddings and baby naming services. Any bookings made through the CommunityConnect website will result in donations being given to the community group Clevedon Pride and Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary.

Now, Ed is encouraging more companies to sign up.

He said: “It gives businesses the opportunity to have strong community presence and show that their business is involved in their customers’ interests.

“It is a way of advertising what they do with no real cost.”

Through CommunityConnect, companies are encouraged to offer exclusive discounts and deals only available through the project’s website, where their products or services will also be advertised. On that same website, visitors can recommend people, organisations or projects in Clevedon which could benefit from the resources donated.

To drum-up even more interest, a grand prize draw will be held in time for Christmas when one lucky ticket holder will be given a whole host of prizes donated by participating businesses. Currently, the total value of the prize is �500.

To find out more about the scheme, to recommend good causes which could benefit or to buy a prize draw ticket for �1 visit www.connectingthecommunity.co.uk

Any business wishing to get involved can contact Ed by calling 07585 792772 or ed.dench@triangletelecom.co.uk

Ed is also using the social network www.streetlife.com to gauge people’s opinions on ideas for the project.