Some of the district's community, voluntary and art groups have benefited from a share of £51,000 in grant money.

But there was disappointment and concern expressed by some community associations who were turned down.

An Adur council spokeswoman said: "All the successful grant bids met the criteria laid down by the council for projects which will make a difference to many peoples lives.

"Every group who applied for a grant was offered help to complete the forms and indeed council officers are always happy to help voluntary and community groups with any funding bids.

"Following an audit of the community grant scheme it was recommended that the council change the way it awarded grants. They must be for projects, not running costs, and meet objectives such as reducing crime and the fear of crime, improving educational standards, reducing health inequalities, empowering communities targeting deprived areas and supporting vulnerable groups such as the elderly.

"This new way of awarding community grants has meant more groups were eligible to apply and many did. Several of the grants awarded have been for the first time.

"Unfortunately, some of the grant applications were unsuccessful and this was mainly because the money was wanted to pay for running costs or the application was unclear or vague. This has left £13,000 in the community grant coffers which will now be spent on developing community projects in two of Adur's deprived wards."

Grants awarded included £3,450 to Adur Talking News for updating equipment and help with relocation costs, £7,000 to Company Paradiso, which is an art and drama project working directly with young people at risk of offending and involving their own life stories and experiences, £2,000 to Shoreham Citizens Advice Bureau for a project to increase outreach into disadvantaged areas, £5,000 for West Sussex fire and rescue service's Coaching for a Safer Community Football Project, which works with young people in disadvantaged areas, £3,480 for the Sphere of Experience oral history and art project working with older people in the Southlands area and younger people, telling life stories and developing a website.

Also £10,000 for the Southlanders to develop its community cafe facility, £5,000 for 4Sight – West Sussex Association for the Blind to support the work of an outreach project worker for Adur and £3,000 for the Adur Arts Forum to develop work in disadvantaged areas.

Those turned down for grants were Shoreham Community Association, Southwick Community Association, Sompting Community Association, Vitalise (holidays for disabled people), Beach Dreams, Adur Learning Exchange, Adur Information Shop for Young People, Buckingham Park Primary School, Transition Towns and Ropetackle Centre Trust.

-------------------------------------
Click here to go back to Shoreham news.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: letters@shorehamherald.co.uk