In the money - our big giveaway

A total of 28 community groups in Shropshire and Mid Wales are celebrating after securing a share of a £10,000 cash giveaway.

The cash comes from the Shropshire Star's community Treasure Chest scheme, run in conjunction with banking giant Barclays.

From village halls to playgroups, old people's organisations and sports associations, the applications came in from every corner of the region - and deciding on which groups should get a share of the cash pot provide difficult for our judges.

A variety of good causes have benefited from the scheme, which supports groups and organisations struggling for funding.

The Park Lane Centre, Woodside, Telford, secured a £300 grant towards developing a wild meadow near the centre. Jane Bellingham, centre manager, said: "I am delighted with the funding which will help us develop the surroundings of the centre."

A proposal to improve Edgmond Village Hall has also been given £300. It will help meet the £2,000 cost of replacing two external fire doors, a rotten frame and an internal store-room door. Robert Bradley, hall committee chairman, said: "Any funding we get is welcome."

Residents of a Telford sheltered housing complex can look forward to a festive treat thanks to the Treasure Chest. A grant of £250 has gone to Langley Fold Residents' Association, Dawley, Telford, to pay for a Christmas meal. Up to 45 residents will benefit. Joan Noel, association chairman, said: "We are delighted we have been successful."

A Telford support group that gives information to cancer and leukaemia patients is celebrating a £200 grant. The money will help the Princess Royal Hospital's Haemotology Support Group to buy books for its reference library and to pay the expenses of guest speakers at its regular meetings.

Group secretary Roger Van-Cauter said: "Part of our work is to help sufferers and their families understand their treatment and the drugs they are taken . . . any help we can give is important."

And £80 goes to Tern Valley District Cubs to help leaders put on activities for the youngsters. Leader Andy Delamere said: "This will help us to continue helping and working with today's youth."

Edgmond Senior Citizens Club has received £100 to help meet rising expenses. The club, which started in 1970, meets in Edgmond Village Hall and holds various events, including film and slideshows, coach trips and parties. Joan Wright, from the club's committee, said: "It is a small, but well-used group and the grant will help us meet our costs."

The Samaritans' Telford branch has received a grant of £200 towards maintaining its building in Wellington's King Street. The organisation offers support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.

The Telford & Wrekin Arthritis Support Group has been granted £150 towards employing the services of a physiotherapist. Pat Watkins, group secretary, said: "We are over the moon."

Telford-based Supporting Those Affected By Lifelong Epilepsy (STABLE) has received £500. The non-profit organisation was formed after Liz Lowthian-Preece, one of the directors, lost her son to sudden unexplained death by epilepsy. The money will be put towards visual aids to raise awareness.

Wellington-based charity Landau has been given £500 towards delivering a World of Work programme. It supports people with learning difficulties and helps them develop skills.

Longdon-on-Tern Village Hall can now splash out on some new furniture after receiving £500.

Drop-in centre Mark's Pit Stop, in Tan Bank, Wellington, has been given £540 to cover rent until after Christmas. The pit stop provides comfort and advice along with hot drinks and snacks to the homeless and lonely.

Founder Janet Groves is appealing for donations of warm men's and women's clothing, along with good-condition boots or shoes. Call her on 07817 981772.

Club 2000 Sport and Leisure for the Disabled has been awarded £500 towards craft equipment and materials. The Telford-based club provides people with disabilities and learning difficulties with activities every Thursday night at Madeley Court Sports Centre.

Members of the Shropshire Burma Star Association will next year gather for a special reunion, thanks to £400. Secretary Richard Jones said: "Sometime in January we are going to have a late Christmas lunch and the money will go towards that."

The Lewis Prior Foundation was awarded £900 to buy a machine to monitor heart rate and oxygen levels of youngsters on Royal Shrewsbury Hospital's (RSH's) rainbow ward.

Colin and Karen Prior, of Monkmoor, lost their son Lewis to a congenital heart condition in 2004. Mrs Prior said: "When Lewis was at the hospital they had these machines, but they were short of them. When we saw the cash giveaway we thought we would ask for money to help buy one or two."

Residents using Harley Village Hall, near Shrewsbury, will soon have the use of a number of new folding tables thanks to the Treasure Chest. The hall committee has been given £180.

The Giggle Group at the Acorns Club in Shrewsbury will soon be watching comedy films and other rib-tickling programmes on a new television following a £200 donation. Acorns helps alleviate emotional and mental distress and is open as a drop-in centre Fridays to Sundays.

Whittington Under Fives Pre-School will soon have new toys after getting £200. Spokeswoman Helen Jones said: "The award will make a real difference."

Senior citizens from Llangynog, north Powys, can look forward to a Christmas celebration thanks to £200.Llangynog has no village shop and a post office open just two mornings a week in the Memorial Hall. But it does have an Age Concern Health Living Centre.

Volunteer Carol Jones said the cash would be used to treat the centre users to a Christmas meal and celebration.

The Friday Event Youth Club, in Highley, has been awarded £300 to buy a Nintendo Wii games console and television. The club, which meets each Friday in the parish hall, has about 40 regular members, aged 11-16, and eight volunteer helpers.

Bishop's Castle Community Hospital receives £400. Sister Sandra Bradbury said: "This money will help to get the state-of-the-art equipment we need."

Rushbury Village Hall is receiving £200 to put towards a nappy-changing unit. The hall opened 10 years ago and is used regularly by different groups.

A scheme under threat through lack of funds, the Access 16 + project at Ysgol Cedewain in Newtown, has been awarded £1,000. It follows an application by the Friends of Cedewain, which provides support for the school for children with severe learning difficulties.

The Queensway Area Residential and Recreational Association, Whitchurch, will be improving sports facilities in the town thanks to a £577 handout.

The money is being used to buy goalposts and nets to go with the lengthened pitch for youngsters in the area to use. Helen Ciesielski, association secretary, said: "It will be a great help."

The fund is giving £564 to provide 20 new chairs for Hinstock Memorial Hall. The hall is an important community facility and committee members are eager to replace the old wooden chairs currently in use.

New furniture will also be heading to Tilstock Bradbury Village Hall thanks to a £500 award.

The hall opened in September and is a fully accessible venue for the community, boasting a series of environmentally-friendly design features. Betty Branden, secretary, said: "The money is going to be useful as we are looking for new chairs, tables and cupboards for the hall. Hopefully we will be buying them in the next few weeks."

The Whitchurch Air Cadets have been given £80 towards the funding and running of a new minibus. This will help the group on many of their activities, which take place at locations across Shropshire.

An award of £80 has been given to the 3rd Market Drayton Brownies to help carry out much-needed repairs to the town's guiding hut. Repairs are needed to fix a leaking roof, disabled toilet and install new heaters.

By Iain St John