THIRTY schemes which will make a difference to communities across Hambleton District are sharing £125,000 through a special project.

Each market town area was earmarked £25,000 to spend on schemes that would be of benefit to residents by the district council.

The authority received 38 separate bids for money from not for profit groups and panels of councillors were set up to decide how the cash should be spent.

Grants being given out include upgrades for village halls,investment in sport and play areas, footpaths, transport and support for voluntary groups helping residents.

These include five schemes in the Bedale area, with the biggest grant of £6,350 going to Hackforth village hall to refurbish the toilets.

A further £5,500 will go to the Community Forum for a footpath between Sussex Close and Firby Road and £3,750 will go towards a community hub being established by the Leeming Bar Residents Association.

In the Easingwold area seven grants have been made, including £4,500 to Huby and Sutton Community shop.

Nine schemes in the Northallerton area are benefitting with £6,000 going to Brompton Recreation association for a playing field at Station Road, £2,000 to Hambleton Foodshare project, £5,500 to the Breathing Space bus scheme and £1,000 towards Northallerton bowling club lighting the darkness project.

Stokesley area shares its money between three schemes with Battersby Junction Community Association receiving £19,965 to provide recreation space and £2,450 for access improvements at Great Ayton village hall.

Thirsk has five awards including £12,500 to Thirsk, Sowerby and District Community Care Association for the Volunteer Thirsk project and £2,500 towards the refurbishment of Kilburn village hall.

Councillors in each of the areas looked at requests for money put forward and made recommendations about which ones should receive help with a minimum of £2,500 and the option of giving all £25,000 to one project.

“This grant scheme generated a lot of interest and is clearly going to do exactly what we want it to do,” said Cabinet Member, Councillor Bridget Fortune.

“The projects selected have been chosen by the community, the allocation decision made by the community, and the final outcome is for the benefit of their community."

The schemes had to meet key priorities including supporting economic growth, improving health and well being, improving access to services and supporting a changing population. Bidders also had to show that there was community involvement, prove the need and the schemes had to represent value for money.