IT is good news that the Government has deigned to give the people of Swindon a grant of £50,000 and we must of course show due deference to our political masters and thank them for their largesse. However, I am amazed that yet once again the beneficiaries of this money are the Parks, who received grants totalling £63,000 in August and new Walcot. Only two months ago grants were made to groups in what are described as 'disadvantaged areas of the town' among which were: The Willows received £36,740. This is an Old Town based charity and provides counselling services including debt advice to those in need. As a result of the cash boost Willows management intends to extend its activities with sessions at the Park's Volunteer and Resources Centre, John Moulton Hall - Penhill and The Clivey Project.

The Clivey project received £29,080. According to statement from the management of The Clivey Project they intend to provide new drop in sessions at The Advice Point - The Parks and at The John Moulton Hall - Penhill. The Clivey Project is also aiming to support teenagers in CV writing and interview techniques.

Community and Learning in Penhill received £38,000. CLIP has announced they will be hosting a series of back to work courses where people can work on their interview techniques and CV writing.

The Advice Point in Parks received £35,225. The management of this group has announced they are going to offer additional drop-in sessions in Penhill and Pinehurst, their work is primarily related to housing and debt advice, very much the same as The Willows Counselling Service.

The Clivey Credit Union received £21,000.

I feel sure you will see from the above the duplication of effort which concerns me. Each of the groups named received a sum of money to improve services in the areas in which they work and I welcome the extra resource they can obtain from the increased funding. What I amazed at is the seeming nonsense of each of the groups seeking to 'encroach' into geographical areas where others already work.

Why is the Clivey Project even considering extending their activities to Penhill and the Parks - two organisations in the Parks received a total of £63,000 to extend their own outreach to those in need in the Parks.

Why is The Advice Point based in the Parks (who received £35,225) extending their work to cover Penhill and Pinehurst - when The Clivey Project covers Pinehurst and Clip covers Penhill.

Why is The Willows Counselling Service extending its operation to Pinehurst, Penhill and the Parks when each of these areas has an organisation undertaking exactly the same type of work and to which substantial grants have been made.

Why is the Clivey Project extending its service specifically to Penhill when the CLIP team have received extra funding and are claiming to be doing exactly what The Clivey Project is going to do.

Finally, the Clivey Credit Union received extra funding of £21,000. What on earth is the need for The Advice Point based in the Parks and The Willows Counselling Service based in Old Town to extend their work to Penhill and Pinehurst when there are local groups, The Clivey Project, The Clivey Credit union and CLIP who offer the same services.

Des Morgan Caraway Drive Swindon