Community groups across Hitchin have received a share of more than £7,500 in funding from North Herts Council to support projects ranging from school playground improvements and inclusive cycling to spoken word events and addiction recovery services.

The council has awarded £7,501 in grants following recommendations made by the Hitchin Community Forum at its meeting on 2 June.

Among the beneficiaries is the Friends of Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy, which has received £1,500 towards replacing playground equipment as part of a wider project to rejuvenate the school's outdoor play area. The funding will help create a safer and more engaging environment for pupils.

The same amount has been awarded to the Herts Disability Sports Foundation to support its Bikes Without Barriers programme at Oughton Primary School.

The initiative promotes inclusive physical activity through adapted cycling opportunities and will also see donated bikes refurbished and repaired for local children.

Ros Cramp, Charity Director at the Herts Disability Sports Foundation, said: "A huge thank you to the Hitchin Community Forum for awarding a grant to enable us to support the children at Oughton Primary School.

"This money will allow us to work with two classes, teaching children how to ride a bike and helping those who already can cycle to develop their skills.

"We will also provide a mechanic to repair children's bikes and give refurbished bikes to those who do not have one. This project's basic aim is to ensure that 'Everyone can cycle'."

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Creative writing and performance organisation Shout or Whisper (SoW) CIC has also secured £1,500 to support three new Spotlight spoken word events.

The project aims to champion local voices through workshops, feedback sessions and live performances, while providing paid opportunities for artists and event staff.

Will Coles, Director of SoW CIC, said: "I am incredibly grateful to North Herts Council for their generous grant donation to our cause.

"This money will not only allow us to provide more performance spaces to local creative talent, but it also means that we can sustainably pay the acts and event staff for all of their seen and unseen brilliance.

"We believe that artists and people who work in the arts should be paid with money not exposure. This grant allows us to do that."

Elsewhere, the Hitchin British Schools Trust has received £1,501 towards its first Summer School programme, helping to create new learning opportunities for local young people during the holidays.

Recovery charity Resolve has also been awarded £1,500 to help fund the work of a key worker supporting people affected by alcohol and drug misuse and homelessness through group therapy and support sessions.

Gary Sutcliffe, Head of Income, Communications and Impact at Resolve, said: "We were delighted and so grateful to receive £1,500 from Hitchin Community Forum – that's a lot of money for a small charity like Resolve.

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"It will be an important funding boost to the cost of our amazing and compassionate Key Workers who, every day, support and help people in the grip of alcohol or drug misuse at our Letchworth centre.

"The work they do has a real and tangible impact on the lives of local residents and this funding will help us to keep this going."

Councillor Daniel Allen, North Herts Council's Executive Member for Governance, said the grants demonstrate the value of investing in grassroots organisations.

He said: "Community grants are a vital way for us to invest in Hitchin and support the groups that make a real difference locally.

"From improving facilities for young people to supporting wellbeing and creativity, these projects highlight the strength of our community support."

Applications for the next round of Hitchin Community Forum grants are now open and close on 12 July. Community groups can find eligibility details and application information via the council's website.