NEARLY £10,000 was given out in grants to community groups in Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge.

Members of Burnham and Highbridge Town Council’s Policy and Finance Committee discussed applications at its July 24 meeting and approved the following grants:

  • The Zone Youth Club, based at the Bay Centre on Cassis Close secured a £3,500 grant towards funding projects for young people to learn new skills.

Cllr Andy Brewer said: “I find this application to be very encouraging. The latest statistics from the club show they have 50 regular members now and they do great work. I fully support this application.”

  • Highbridge Youth Provision Networking Group bagged a £350 grant towards providing more support to young people in Burnham and Highbridge.
  • Burnham’s Men’s Shed project, Boshed, secured a grant of £995.67 towards running costs and training visitors in practical skills. Boshed is based at the Morland Hall, Highbridge.

Cllr Martin Cox said: “I think this is a fantastic idea. Skills can be learned at whatever age and I am fully supportive that they should have all of the money they requested.”

  • SPARK in Somerset was granted £1,000 to recruit a community support worker who will be in Sedgemoor for one day a week to offer support to people in crisis.
  • Burnham’s Chamber of Trade secured a £4,500 grant towards the costs of installating the Christmas lights in the town.

Cllr Peter Burridge Clayton said: “I fully support this application because the Christmas lights switch on brings in a large number of visitors into Burnham.

“It was hugely successful last year and I fully support giving the full amount of funding requested.”

Councillors decided to defer an application from Somewhere House in Burnham for £2,500 towards running costs and drug and alcohol rehabilitation projects.

Cllr Janet Keen said: “I wish to defer this application because there is no representative her to give us more information about the projects. This is a substantial sum and think we need to wait to get more information.”