Councillors in Market Drayton have given organisations in the area a reason to celebrate after handing them a share of a £25,000 cash boost.
The Market Drayton Town Council Finance and General Purposes Committee awarded £24,960 to 12 groups in the area at its latest meeting.
The biggest recipients were Market Drayton Methodist Church and the Maurice Chandler Sports Centre which each received £4,000.
Pete Waters, chairman of the sports centre based in Stoke Heath near Market Drayton, said the money will be used towards re-surfacing the football pitch.
“We didn’t get what we asked for, but were very pleased with what we got and are very grateful for the support from the council,” he said. “Any money we get helps us continue to provide key sports facilities in the area.”
Reverend Roger Baker, of Market Drayton Methodist Church, said: “We have purchased a double decker bus which we hope to refurbish and use as a community bus.
“We will probably start off in the town centre and edge of town and in the future, if we can get the staff, go out to the villages.
“Another option is to lend it out to other groups.”
Musicland, which provides varied musical activities for children in the area, received £3,000 as part of a project which involves purchasing African drums.
A spokesperson for the group said: “We were completely surprised, but very grateful to the town council, especially in today’s economic climate.”
At the meeting held at Market Drayton Town Hall earlier this month funds were given out to Arlon Twinning, Birks Project, CAB, Civic Society, Creative Drayton, and Drayton Sports and Leisure.
Market Drayton Carnival, North Shropshire Safety Scene and Pezanas Twinning Society were also given a share of the funds.
Each year local organisations may apply to the town council for what is described as a “large grant”.
These grants are normally for sums over £300 and this year a total of 14 organisations applied for grants from the town council.
Councillor Roy Aldcroft, chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee, said: “This year was particularly difficult to make recommendations from this committee to the full council.
“There were 14 applications for a total of £53,960, the budget is £25,000.
“This meant that after the longest finance meeting for over a year, the amount recommended to council did not always meet the expectation of the applicant.”