GRANTS worth £82,928 have been awarded by East Hampshire District Council’s (EHDC) cabinet to community projects in East Hampshire.

EHDC’s cabinet-approved community grant scheme is open to community groups and sports clubs across the district to apply for funding between £1,000 and £25,000. The grants are available to all not-for-profit organisations for capital projects that will benefit the local community.

The 8th Alton Scouts received £10,000 toward the extension of their headquarters in Anstey Park.

Known as The Cabin, the building needs extending due to the growing demand and increase in population. The group has grown 15 per cent over the last two years and has reached its capacity with 230 members and a waiting list of 70.

New developments within the town will only increase the demand; a cabin extension will allow the group to add a ‘project room’ and some much-needed storage.

Scout Group chairman John Lewis said: “For the past 60 years, 8th Alton Scout Group has provided tremendous support and development opportunities to the young people of Alton.

“Currently at full capacity providing educational, leadership, team building and outward bound development opportunities to more than 230 young people in Alton and the surrounds, this generous grant from EHDC will enable us to complete our much-needed building extension, and kit out our new project room, providing members with the opportunity to develop new skills in the fields of engineering and construction.”

Alton Community Association received a grant of £16,500 to improve the appearance and performance of its ageing centre.

The improvements will be made to the disabled toilet, foyer, garden room, kitchenette, courtyard corridor, bar area and front entrance.

Centre manager Maria Elliott said: “We are delighted to be successful in our bid for a cabinet grant. This grant will mean that we can continue to make improvements to our building to ensure that the valuable services that we offer our community take place in comfortable, pleasant and, above all, safe surroundings.”

The Church of Holy Rood at Holybourne saw its application for £10,000 approved by EHDC’s cabinet, allowing the church to be used by more of the community.

The money will go toward the creation of a more useable, modern facility for a range of community events and activities. This will be achieved by installing toilets and a kitchen, moving the font and investing in moveable pews and chairs.

The church has also committed to holding a permanent exhibition that will feature its cultural history , supported by trained volunteers.

A reburbished playground will open in the playground next to Froyle Village Hall thanks to the £15,000 EHDC has granted Froyle Parish Council.

Parish councillor Nick Whines said: “The children of Froyle are eagerly looking forward to their revamped playground which Froyle Parish Council hopes to re-open in July with lots of exciting new equipment, including some challenging climbing apparatus for older children.

“Froyle Village Hall is a popular location for children’s parties and the new playground will certainly become an added attraction. Froyle Parish Council is grateful for the support of EHDC.”

Liss Parish Council received the highest grant of £25,000. The money will to go toward a new community facility, replacing the old pavilion and Scout hut that are more than 30 years old and beyond economic repair.

Roger Hargreaves, chairman of Liss Parish Council, said: “We are very grateful to the support from EHDC for our pavilion project.

“Liss urgently needs a building to replace the pavilion at West Liss, which has come to the end of its life.

“A new pavilion will provide facilities that will benefit many groups and organisations in Liss, particularly the Scouts. With the other funding we have raised, the cabinet grant should allow the project to go ahead.”

After giving out this round of cabinet-approved community grants, district councillor Julie Butler, portfolio holder for customer services, said: “It really is great that EHDC offers this grant and supports community organisations and projects that are really important to the residents of East Hampshire.

“As a district council we want to help anyone that is making East Hampshire a better place to live through their community work and we have definitely done that through this round of funding.”