COMMUNITY organisations from across Tynedale have received financial gifts from Northumberland County Council.

As part of the council’s countywide Community Chest scheme, which awards grants of up to £5,000, the west of Northumberland got its fair share of funding.

Representatives from the groups were presented with a certificate from Coun. Trevor Cessford, the chairman of the Tynedale Local Area Council Community Chest panel.

Receiving cheques during the ceremony at Hexham House were Allendale Cricket Club, Jessica’s Sarcoma Awareness, Wylam Institute Community Association, Hexham Football Club, Hexham Community Church, Hexham Community Centre, Dragon Tale Theatre Group, of Wylam, and Happy Faces Prudhoe.

Clare Mwande, manager of Hexham Community Centre, said the grant would help the thriving centre expand.

She said: “Hexham Community Centre is a very, very busy part of Hexham life. It’s largely sustainable but now we’ve got some plans to push and do even bigger things than we’ve done before. So this is a really good start.”

Coun. Cessford said: “I was delighted to present certificates to some of the community groups that benefited from the latest round of grants that were given out.

“It’s great to help out groups who make a big difference in the community they serve.”

Since 2009, more than 1,500 projects have benefited from £2.8m from the scheme countywide.

More information about the Community Chest scheme can be found at http://bit.ly/CommunityChestNCC.