FOUR groups which help improve lives of people in Sedgemoor have won more than £30,000 of funding which will help them to continue to provide vital projects.

Somerset Time for Youth, In Charley's Memory, Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge Men's Sheds and Burnham and District in Bloom were four of 73 community projects in Somerset which was awarded £2 million of National Lottery funding last week.

Dawn Carey, from In Charley's Memory, which offers mental health support to young people across Sedgemoor, said the charity was thrilled after winning £10,000 "It is absolutely amazing, "If it wasn't for the people in Burnham-on-Sea and the generosity of the National Lottery as a charity we would be really struggling.

"We are going to put some of the money into our ambassador scheme, we recruit young volunteers who train to become mental health ambassadors and go into schools to speak to other young people about mental health.

"We are also going to put the money towards sorting out our new counselling rooms at our new premises.

"We moved to Manor Farm when we started In Charley's Memory in 2015 but now we are growing and we are getting more disabled clients and volunteers through the door we need somewhere they can have access.

"Our new offices at Rose Farm are on the ground floor so everyone will be able to access them, this money will be so helpful in doing it."

Burnham and Highbridge Men's Shed also won £9,300, which will go towards insulating their workshop at the Morland Hall and refurbishing a communal space for visitors.

Tony Cradock, chairman of Burnham and Highbridge Men's Shed, said: "We were really surprised to receive £9,300 from the lottery as we only asked for £5,0000 but we are so happy to have got it," Tony said.

"We have more than 55 paid up members now who come regularly and this money is going to help us to soundproof one of the rooms which heavy machinery can be used in so people can sit and work in another room while chatting.

"We also are working on extending our premises and getting a container so we can do more on site.

"This money means we have been able to upgrade some of our electricals and our tools for better ones and to spend more money on making this space nicer for people who come here.

"We are very grateful for the National Lottery's support."