SKATE boarding and dancing will be a regular feature at an Ipswich school thanks to a bumper pay out.Copleston High School is one of two winners from the town in the latest round of grants by the National Lottery's Awards for All programme.

SKATE boarding and dancing will be a regular feature at an Ipswich school thanks to a bumper pay out.

Copleston High School is one of two winners from the town in the latest round of grants by the National Lottery's Awards for All programme.

The school has been awarded �9,645 to buy a portable skate park and establish a dance mat club for young people after school.

The skate park, which will be used for weekly activities, will include ramps, rails and platforms that can be folded down into a trailer.

The school has also benefited from funding from the school sports partnership and the Big Lottery Fund, which it used to buy 12 dance mats.

The new facilities, which will be launched after the February half-term, will also be available for children at other schools in a collaborative venture.

Rob Terry, partnership development manager at Copleston High School, said: “Without this grant this would not have been possible.

“The children will benefit so much from this equipment, by keeping fit, having fun and mixing with their peers in a safe environment after school.”

Also celebrating is Ipswich Blind Society after they were granted �9,920 to establish a new helpline for clients to help alleviate feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Volunteers will be recruited to help deliver the project, where clients can make an appointment to receive regular weekly calls.

Meanwhile, The Royal Yachting Association Eastern Region received a �5,000 boost to buy windsurfing equipment.

The group, which covers Suffolk, will also use the money to offer taster sessions, coaching and provide a training weekend to develop interest and new skills in the sport.

Terry Corner, chairman of the group's regional training panel, said: “The new equipment greatly increases the activities each club can offer and the skills people can gain, providing the clubs with opportunities to compete.”

Awards for All, the small grants scheme administered by the Big Lottery Fund, makes awards of between �300 and �10,000 to grass-roots community groups and voluntary organisations.

For a full list of award recipients, visit: www.awardsforall.org.uk/england/news

Have you benefitted from a grant? Write to Your Letters, The Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.