SEVENTEEN voluntary groups are to get a share of £45,000 to improve social, artistic or sporting opportunities in Suffolk.

SEVENTEEN voluntary groups are to get a share of £45,000 to improve social, artistic or sporting opportunities in Suffolk.

Suffolk Coastal District Council has announced the organisations that will benefit from its latest round of capital grant aid.

The Blaxhall Village Hall Management Committee is getting £7,500 towards the cost of a new kitchen and toilet, £5,000 is going to Felixstowe Old Peoples' Welfare Association to install a new kitchen facilities at the Seafront Hut, Martlesham Youth Football Club will get £3,000 for fencing to protect its playing field from animals and vandals and the Trimley Memorial Hall Management Committee will receive £3,000 towards new radiators, safety flooring and chairs.

Councillor Mary Neale, responsible for community development/rural issues, said: “These grants are targeted at projects that are available to the general public as a whole, and can often be vital in helping these groups successfully attract much larger sums of funding from the various branches of the National Lottery.

“There is a wide range of organisations, mainly run by volunteers, whose efforts are helping to improve the quality of life of our residents. Our capital grants are there to support the purchase of important equipment or the building of new facilities.”

Other groups benefiting include the Butley Village Hall Committee (£1,000 for new table and chairs), Leiston St Margaret Football Club (£4,000 to replace its clubhouse roof), Martlesham Bowls Club (£400 towards buying a secure metal store to contain machinery used on the bowling green), Martlesham Heath Pavilion (£2,000 for a heating and air condition system), the Shottisham Women's Institute (£548 to replace the lath and plaster ceiling, and tackle a rotted door and window frames), Thorpeness Sports and Social group (£800 towards a more accessible club entrance), Trimley St Mary Welcome Hall (£3,000 towards a disabled toilet and improved access) and Woodbridge Community Hall (£2,000 to help refurbish its toilets).

A grant of £2,000 to Grundisburgh Tennis Club for flood lighting on two courts was agreed subject to planning permission being granted, and £1,000 will be given to the Knodishall Village Hall trustees if they are successful in purchasing land next to the hall.

A grant of £4,000 will go to the Red Rose Chain Theatre Company, based in Ipswich, to buy grandstand seating for shows in Rendlesham Forest if they agree to lend the seating three times a year to other groups.

Yoxford Arts Festival will receive £996 if it agrees to allow other groups to use the PA system it wants to buy and Melton Parish Council will get £2,000 to resurface two tennis courts once further information is received by the council.

Any local group or organisation that would like to apply for a grant can contact Christine Brain at the council on 01394 444626 or by e-mail at Christine.brain@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk