THREE community groups in Teesdale and Wear Valley have benefited from grants totalling £22,500.

The 2D volunteer bureau, Woodhouse Close Church, near Bishop Auckland, and the Bowes pre-school playgroup have received grants from the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales.

A grant of £10,000 was given to 2D, a charity linking volunteers with organisations in Teesdale and Weardale. The money will contribute towards the salary of Carol Lewis, a dedicated network co-ordinator, who will work to improve communication and information networks in the area.

Michele Armstrong, 2D's chief officer, said: "This will help us to co-ordinate the voluntary and community sector to enable it to influence decision-making and the strategic partnership.

"Carol will work out of Enterprise House, in Barnard Castle. We have a community network in Wear Valley and are working to set one up in Teesdale. We hope this money will allow the project to continue to grow."

Woodhouse Close Church has received £7,500 to refurbish its kitchen.

The kitchen is also used for community meetings and provides meals for more than 100 people each week.

Community groups using the hall and new kitchen will include youth clubs, day clubs for elderly people, and the church congregation.

The pre-school playgroup at Bowes, near Barnard Castle, received £5,000 to enable it to cover core costs, including the toy and book library, and the salaries of key staff. The pre-school opened in July 2002 with three children, and has grown to having 16 children on the register. It is open every morning during term-time.

Catherine Ryan, the pre-school group's treasurer, said: "We are really pleased with this kind contribution. We are in the process of expanding to running three afternoons a week as well, so this will help a lot."

Peter Ellis, regional manager for the North-East Lloyds TSB Foundation, said: "The charitable organisations here are doing wonderful work in small, local communities, where public transport is, at best, limited. It is vital that they are supported."

Last year, the Lloyds TSB Foundation received £33m to give to charities in the UK, including more than £1.3m for charities in the North-East.