THOUSANDS of pounds have been handed out to community and voluntary organisations in West Dorset.
The cash - worth £12,800 - comes from the car boot sale held weekly in West Bay. West Dorset District Council collects income from people who hire pitches at the event and it all goes directly to the Bridport area car boot fund.
Successful organisations were invited to a celebration tea at the Salt House in West Bay to receive certificates handed out by the chair of the panel Councillor Keith Day.
Local community organisations in the Bridport area were invited to apply for the funds earlier this year. A panel of district councillors awarded the grants from the many applications received.
Organisations that were allocated grants include Chideock Village Hall who received £1,000 to carry out essential health and safety works, Bride Valley Scout Group who received £300 to purchase tents for hiking and camping expeditions. Read Easy- Bridport also received £300 to purchase teaching aids which will guide learners through a course of reading and writing.
Other groups that benefitted included 1st Charmouth Guides (£200), 1st Charmouth Scout Group (£450), Axe Valley & West Dorset Ring & Ride Services (£500), Bradpole Preschool (£380), Bride Valley Scout Group (£300), Bridport Area Development Trust (£200), Bridport Community Orchard Group (£300), Bridport Deaf Club (£1000), Bridport Gateway Club/West Dorset Mencap (£100), Bridport Gig Club (£300), Bridport Millennium Green Trust (£500), Bridport Tennis Club (£500), Chancery House Day Centre (£500), Chideock Village Hall (£1000), Citizens Advice Bridport & District (£450), Dorset Blind Association (£500), Home-Start West Dorset (£1000), Loders Youth Club (£850), Pathways To Care (£200), Read Easy Bridport (£300), St Andrews Pre-School (£500), The Allington Hill, Cooper's Wood and Field Community Group (£500), The Bridport Young Performers Scholarship (£360), The Friendly Food Club (£300), The Living Tree (£500), The Pilsdon Community (£210) and Transition Town Bridport (£300).
The grant programme is now closed but will be open again for applications in January 2018.
More information about the fund is available at www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/bridportfund
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