Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 have been approved for a range of community groups across the district using money from the council's Prosperity Fund, a pot of £210,000 funded by the previous government's Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Sports clubs, gardening and allotment groups, social enterprises and community organisations have been given an all-important cash injection for specific projects.

Hitchin groups to benefit include FC Comets, a youth football club, that will see £6,000 go towards a mower that is suitable for the grounds in autumn/winter months.

£12,225 is allocated for Hitchin Youth Allotment to allow them to expand and offer more opportunities to schools and community groups to take part in their activities.

£20,000 goes to the Triangle Community Garden so they can make plots more accessible, providing a kitchen area and improving biodiversity.

Cllr Val Bryant, Executive Member for Community & Partnerships, who made the delegated decision in consultation with the Service Director for Legal & Community, explained:

"From playground equipment and swimming lessons for children, to singing sessions for older people with dementia and an exciting tech recycling project, these grants help our cash-strapped community sector to provide important local services, and have a positive impact on the community and wider environment, which ultimately improves the lives of our residents"

"They all meet at least one of the council's three priorities – People first, Sustainability, and a brighter future together – as well as a government list of interventions."

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The Full List of beneficiaries are -

• £5,421 - Beee Creative towards the delivery of a dance programme.
• £6,750 - Creative Chefs, which provides fun food session for children, towards building a website.
• £6,000 - FC Comets, a youth football club in Hitchin, towards a mower that is suitable for the grounds in autumn/winter months.
• £19,775 - Green Care at Norton towards a low-emissions van.
• £8,000 to Groundwork East towards to help deal with the waiting list for their Green Aiders service.
• £5,000 - Herts Musical Memories to support the delivery of weekly singing sessions for older people with dementia.
• £12,225 - Hitchin Youth Allotment to expand and offer more opportunities to schools and community groups to take part in their activities.
• £6,100 - Khalsa Youth Football Academy for costs of halls and drum displays for their futsal sessions and mini festivals.
• £9,769 - Letchworth Eagles Football Club towards a pop-up refreshment area and storage solutions.
• £5,500 - Letchworth Garden Shed towards a tech recycling project.
• £14,622 - North Herts Centre for Voluntary Service (CVS) to upskill and help people get online.
• £19,134 - North Herts Minority Ethnic Forum towards community projects and revitalising their base.
• £5,232 - North Herts Pride towards hosting a charity gala.
• £19,250 - Reed Parish Council towards playground equipment.
• £20,000 - Royston Museum towards upgrading and expanding their storage.
• £6,589 - Royston Swimming Club towards swim meet costs and upgrading equipment.
• £8,119 - Stand By Me bereavement support towards technology for group sessions.
• £20,000 - Triangle Community Garden towards making plots more accessible, providing a kitchen area and improving biodiversity.
• £7,087 - Walk the Walk, a family support service, towards volunteer capacity building.
• £5,427 - Zeo Church towards their Helping Hands project, which improves people's homes with volunteers carrying out 'odd jobs'.