Bromsgrove District Council’s Community Grants Scheme has had a cash boost of £68,000 to help groups and organisation hit by the pandemic.

District Councillors agreed to top up the money, which was only £12,000 for the whole community, with the Covid Grant funding from Government.

Groups and organisations which meet the criteria can apply for up to £5,000 from the £80,000 pot.

Community Grant Schemes are ring-fenced pots of money that can be used to fund other groups/organisations to deliver small, separate projects.

Bromsgrove District Council’s portfolio-holder for finance and enabling Cllr Geoff Denaro said: “The New Homes Bonus Community Grants funding for this year was reduced to £12,000 at a time when a lot of our voluntary and support organisations were unable to fundraise.

“This pandemic has shown us what a lifeline our local groups provide in our communities so we wanted to recognise this and continue our support for them.”

The scheme will run for 12 months and be reviewed as part of the budget process for the following financial year.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on June 18.