MORE than 1000 people voted on how a £40,000 grant should be split between community projects in Spennymoor at the weekend(Saturday, November 9).

Twenty-four projects were put forward in the It’s Up 2 U event, hosted by the Spennymoor Area Action Partnership (AAP), at Spennymoor Leisure Centre.

The projects could ask for anything between £500 and £5000 for their ideas, which included everything from new equipment for sports clubs to funding community events.

Members of the public then voted for their three favourites with the money being split between the most popular ones.

Spennymoor county councillor Ian Geldard announced the results at the end of the day with nine schemes sharing the fund.

The winners included Spennymoor Town Band who secured £5,000 to support musical tuition for children and young people, Tudhoe Cricket Club who were granted £5,000 to buy a professional electronic scoreboard and Spennymoor Boxing Academy who were awarded £4,700 for a new boxing ring.

Chi Taekwondo Spennymoor were also awarded £5,000 to buy electronic equipment, Spennymoor Cricket Club secured £4,850 to develop their junior cricket and facilities and the Spennymoor Stage and Song secured £5,000 to put on this year’s pantomime - Cinderella.

Other successful projects included Ox Close Primary School which received £4,534 to set up an outdoor learning Forest School, the Spennymoor Aged Persons Gala & Treat Fund Committee which secured £5,000 towards their Diamond Jubilee Gala Celebrations and lastly, the Byers Green Football Club which was given the remaining £907 to improve their facilities and buy new equipment.

Talking about their success, Spennymoor Cricket Club secretary, Alan Jones, said it was “fantastic” result for the club.

“We wanted to raise the profile of Spennymoor Cricket Club because people automatically think of Tudhoe even though we’ve been around for 150 years,” he said.

Another project overjoyed to secure funding was the Spennymoor Aged Persons Gala & Treat Fund Committee who are now looking forward to making their jubilee gala a one to remember.

Gala treasurer, Barry Summers, said: “We are very happy, it was astonishing to get it!”

Spennymoor AAP coordinator, Michael Wilkes, said event, now in its second year, was a huge success.

“We had a really good turnout and it’s been really positive,” he said. “A lot of people realise that it’s given the community their voice because it’s their chance to be heard – it’s really important.”

Cllr Geldard added: “We have been able to help so many projects with their good causes today and I really think events like this are vital.”