Community groups across the Black Country and Staffordshire were today celebrating after winning a slice of a £70,000 cash pot given away by the Express & Star.

The region’s unsung heroes have been recognised for the work they do in the community after being chosen to receive a Grassroots Grant of up to £1,000. And their efforts were marked with a special reception at the Express & Star’s head office in Queen Street last night. Around 30 groups have received money through the project.

Among them is Brierley Hill Choral Society, which received £500. Members of the group, which has been going for 77 years, will use the cash to help pay for two soloists for a concert to be held on May 7 next year.

Group archivist Edwin Jeffery, aged 74, from Stourbridge, said: “We are very pleased with the cash, it will be a great help to us.”

The Aldridge Bereavement Club, which has been going for 11 years and has 45 members, received £1,000.

Treasurer Barbara Savigar said: “We are going to use the money to take all our members on day trips or maybe subsidise a weekend holiday.”

Geoff Webb, aged 77, represented Sandwell Family History Society, which received a grant of £600 to create a new website for members.

Also in attendance was Brian Monk, 73, the chairman of the Blackheath-based Britannia Sons of Rest club.

The community club has 45 members and the £1,000 it received will go towards improving the facilities, including buying a new pool table in a bid to attract younger members.

Mr Monk said: “It is going to make a big difference, we would have never afforded it otherwise.”

The Grassroots Grants programme formed a key element of the Labour government’s strategy for building more active communities.

Birmingham and Black Country Community Foundation, Wolverhampton Network Consortium, Sandwell Council for Voluntary Organisations and Staffordshire Community Foundation joined forces with the Express & Star to hand out the grants to groups.