COMMUNITY projects around the Forest have received a cash boost from a grant scheme.

The 36 initiatives have been awarded a share from the Forest Council’s small community grants scheme and the youth activities fund run by the council and Gloucestershire County Council.

The funding will be used for a wide variety of local community initiatives, ranging from providing support and advice to vulnerable groups, to purchasing much-needed equipment and materials for voluntary activity groups.

The groups that have received community grants ranging from £320 to £1,898 are: Church of Holy Jesus, Lydbrook, Ellwood Youth FC, Forest Active Community Trust, Forest of Dean Buddy Club, Forest Singers, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Gloucestershire Young Carers Huntley and Churcham Youth Project, Lydney Community Centre, Newent Cricket Club, Redmarley FC, Sedbury Space, Severnside Stitchers, St John’s Church Next Generation in Coleford, St John’s Parent-Teacher Association in Coleford, The Music Works in Cinderford, Victoria Centre in Lydney, Walking for Health Woolaston Memory Cafe, and Yorkley Community Centre.

The Forest youth activities fund grants range from £205 to £4,170. The successful groups were Artspace Cinderford, CANDI in Cinderford, Ellwood Youth FC, Huntley and Churcham Youth Project, Forest Pulse, Found in the Forest Youth Theatre, Gloucestershire Young Carers, Hope Support Services, Inferno Explorer Scouts, Lydney Community Centre, Lydney Cricket Club, Ruardean Scouts, Ruardean Youth Club, Teens in Crisis, The Music Works and Viney Hill Christian Centre.

There has been £39,547 awarded so far from the activities fund and £17,890 in community grants.

Cllr Paul Hiett, the council’s Cabinet Member for communities, said: “The standard of applicants for the grants this year was again extremely high and we went through the difficult process of deciding which organisations and groups best met with the relevant priorities and criteria.

“It has been fantastic to be able to support these often unrecognised small groups that exist in our neighbourhoods and to acknowledge the important work they do for the benefit of local people.

“There is still a small amount of funding available for both the community grants and the Forest youth activity grants, so if you have a project that fits either of the criteria and helps build communities, making them safer and better places to live, you may be eligible to apply.”

For more information and to download an application form, visit the community grants and funding page of the council’s website www.fdean.gov.uk.