Social clubs, community groups and schools in the Black Country have won a share of almost £500,000 Lottery funding.

A total of £472,621 has been split between 63 groups in the West Midlands in the Awards for All grants.

For the Anchorage 55 Plus club in Walsall, a £6,000 grant will help pay for new floodlighting for its bowling green in Leighswood Road. And club spokesman Geoff Smith said: “Work is starting on installing the lamp post style lights this week. It means members will be able to complete their games properly.”

In Sandwell, Great Bridge Community Forum has been awarded £9,800 to provide out-of-school activities for pupils.

Swan Village Social Club has been granted £2,130 while Eaton Valley School in Dagger Lane, West Brom-wich has been awarded £4,975.

Miss Claire Norcott, deputy headteacher at Eaton Valley, said: “We are delighted to have won the bid.

“We are going to be work-ing with a theatre company who will be helping our Year 6 children in spring and summer term to do a project on healthy living and we are also looking forward to in-volving community groups in it.”

In Dudley, No Limits Community Association is a support group for people with autism and aspergers syndrome.

It was given charity status in January and its £10,000 award will be used to pay a professional to go in and work with members in a new drama group which will run for 12 months.

Project manager Chris-tina Morgan said the group had put on six taster sessions and they had been very well received.

Other groups to get grants are St Ambrose Catholic Primary in Kidderminster and Kinver Parish Council which have both received £10,000. Age Concern Stafford & District has also got £10,000 as has Adbaston Parochial Church Council and The Grove Primary School and Nursery, Staffordshire.

Groups awarded funds

SANDWELL: Eaton Valley Primary School £4,975; Great Bridge Community Forum £9,800; Swan Village Social Club £2,130

SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE: Kinver Parish Council £10,000

DUDLEY: No Limits Community Project £10,000

WALSALL: Women Against Anti social Persecution £9,977; Anchorage 55 Plus Club £6,000

WOLVERHAMPTON: Victory Painting Group £2,545; Sikh School of Arts Wolverhampton £9,475

WORCESTERSHIRE: St Ambrose Catholic Primary School, in Kidderminster £10,000

STAFFORD: Adbaston Parochial Church Council £10,000; Age Concern Stafford & District £10,000; The Grove Primary School £10,000; Headquarters Household Division £10,000