COMMUNITY groups have been given thousands of pounds to help fund celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this June.

As part of the Arts Council England and UK Community Foundations, money has been dished out to voluntary and community organisations to put 'creativity' at the heart of their celebrations.

Local recipients include Friends of the Lyric Theatre CIC which supports the performing arts centre in Barrack Street, Bridport, which will receive £7,084.54, the Broadwindsor Fun Group which gets £5,000 and the Burrough Harmony Centre mental health support service which receives £2,980.

A spokeswoman from the Friends of the Lyric Theatre, said: "The Lyric Theatre is delighted to be awarded this grant to continue its ongoing work with artists, the community and young people.

"This is built on the Rights Respecting Town Charter principles for young people and create opportunities for them to take an active role in coordinating a celebration of youth creativity in 2022 and position them as tomorrow’s co-leaders for future events.

"Working with partners Bridport Youth & Community Centre, The Bank of Dreams and Nightmares and Bridport Town Council, the project will involve young people in creative workshops and showcase this creativity of street arts, dance, music, spoken work in mid June.

"This will be led and curated by young people themselves. The project will celebrate the creativity, identities and voices of young people in Bridport who often feel excluded from the community.

"These public displays of art will serve to celebrate the town as a place of art, its artists and young people; a town where artists and art are valued and celebrated as part of people’s rights to culture and freedom of expression."

In total, £448,717 is being shared by 88 voluntary and community organisations across the south west region.

The Let’s Create Jubilee Fund will ensure that thousands of people from communities all across England will have the opportunity to take part in exciting creative events – all in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee. From puppetry and story creation, through to making crowns, carnival and art trails, there will be a huge range of exciting activities for people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved in.

Phil Gibby, Arts Council England area director for the south west, said: "This is a fantastic way to celebrate an important milestone in our national history.

"Thanks to National Lottery players, thousands of people in the region will come together to form lasting partnerships, while building a cultural and creative legacy for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

"I look forward to the calendar of creative events taking place throughout the summer."