REDRUTH hosted a lively two-hour event to mark another year of Community Chest grants.

The scheme sees each of Cornwall Council’s 123 councillors handed a £2,000 fund to distribute between voluntary and community groups in his or her own electoral division.

The grants, which can range from £100 to £1,000, can be used for a wide range of groups and activities.

These include supporting vulnerable children or adults, providing community facilities, helping local environmental projects, or assisting to tackle community safety issues.

The main rule is that applications should be for projects which deliver a clear and demonstrable benefit to the local community.

Camborne, Pool, Illogan and Redruth (CIPR) Community Network Panel, one of 19 across the county, hosted the event at St Euny Church.

They invited representatives of 14 community groups who were grant recipients last year to tell their success stories, as well as members of the CIPR Community Network panel, Town and Parish Councils, Cornwall Council members and staff.

The evening included a spectacular light show by the ‘Daylight Group’, live music performances, presentations and refreshments, and showcased some of the causes that the Community Chest grants scheme has supported.

Cornwall Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Edwina Hannaford, said: “The Community Chest programme is an example of Cornwall Council seeding the economy and local services at the grass roots. The amounts may be modest, but who knows better about local priorities than the people who will use the services?

“Community Chest grants have been used to improve community centres or village halls, start local history groups, set up parish newsletters, publicise village walks, buy play or exercise equipment, even part-fund events, festivals and exhibitions.

“I am so pleased to see the CIPR Community Network celebrating their own community initiatives, and highlighting the Community Chest grant scheme to the rest of Cornwall.”