LOCAL groups from across the district have more money to spend thanks to grants from the Forest Council.

Twenty two organisations were awarded community grants from the district council to help towards their valuable work.

They were selected out of 53 applications for a share of the £19,800 available from the council to support community groups. 

The organisations are: Blakeney Baptist Lunch Club, Royal Forest of Dean Riding for the Disabled Carriage Driving Group, TIC+ Counselling services for young people aged nine to 21 and families, Crossroads Care, Dr Charley Day Centre and Luncheon Club, Causeway Wednesday Club, Forest Read Easy Deal (FRED), Friday Lunch Club, Lydcare, Lydney Training Band, Tutnalls Luncheon Club, Worrall Hill Young at Heart Lunch Club, Forest Pulse, Evergreen Club for over 50s, Newent Initiative Trust, Tutshill Community Pre-School, Blakeney Hill Growers, Coleford Hard of Hearing Group. Clearwell Memorial Hall, The General Stores in Mitcheldean, Bicknor Bears and Mitcheldean Welcome Club.

Julia Price of the Bicknor Bear daycare centre said the £400 they received would go towards equipment for the cookery club they run.

She said: "We're grateful for the grant. It is a very popular club and we would like to extend it to other parts of the Forest."

Cllr Terry Hale, cabinet member for the Community said: "Deciding which groups would get a share of the funding was tough as there are so many great and hardworking organisations out in our community.

 "We are very pleased to be able to support these 22 organisations that are doing work to help children, the elderly or vulnerable and disadvantaged people right across the district."