FOUR schools, the Mechanics Institution Trust and Swindon Dance have each received more than £8,000 in Big Lottery Fund grants.

Crowdys Hill School, Holy Cross primary, King William Street primary and King William Playgroup as well as the heritage enterprise and performing arts organisation each received between £8,500 and £10,000 to fund projects to support children and young people across the town days before International Youth Day.

Almost £8,600 went to Holy Cross primary school in Upham Road to help fund an allotment project at the school's new site in Queen's Drive designed to bring the community together.

Each year group will have a designated area to tender and there will also be a greenhouse and shed, equipment and protective clothing for the children.

Holy Cross business manager, Beverly Briggs, said: "We are very pleased that our application was successful as Holy Cross is always keen to provide exciting extra-curricular activities for the children. Parents, grandparents and other family members will be encouraged to help at the club so that it will bring the local community together at the brand new school on Queen's Drive. This funding follows on from last year's successful Big Lottery application which enabled resourcing and running of an after school Let's Get Cooking club which has been hugely enjoyed by the children and will recommence in September. We are confident that the new allotment club will be similarly successful."

Meanwhile Crowdys Hill, which works with students with complex needs in Jefferies Avenue, were awarded £10,000 to fund a holiday play scheme providing opportunities to experience new activities such as sports, arts and trips in a safe and inclusive environment while families take some respite.

Another £9,570 will help Swindon Dance fund the Salto! Juniors programme for children with learning and physical difficulties while £10,000 went to King William Playgroup to re-surface a play area and another £10,000 was awarded to King William Street Primary School to fund an outdoor tranquility zone.

Finally the Mechanics' Trust received £9,965 to put towards the traditional Children's Fete which celebrates the town, its history and diversity.

The Swindon projects were just six of more than 80 recipents across the south west after the Big Lottery handed out a total of £2.7 million in grants across the region.

Lyn Cole, Big Lottery Fund's England grant-making director said: “The valuable work of these leading charities and community groups is helping make a difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our society.”

Community groups with ideas for projects can apply for funding from £300 to £10,000 by joining 30 minute online webinars which run weekly and provide support and guidance on applying.

For more information visit https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/englandwebinars.