Groups cheer on as money is shared out

A lottery handout of thousands of pounds is being shared among community groups in Walsall.

Handouts totalling £501,805 from Awards for All have been given out to 72 groups in the West Midlands, including five in Walsall.

Darlaston Dance Fusion School, which has just set up a new home at Darlaston All Active Club, landed the lion's share of the funding for the borough with a £10,000 grant. The school will use the grant to develop and expand its programme of cheerleading training and performance.

Sharon Felton, who runs the school, said: "We have 50 students now from as young as four years of age up to 17.

"It's remarkable how quickly we have grown from just a handful of girls to a group of this size – it's really been a meteoric rise.

"The group is important because there is very little else for young people to do in the area. The local leisure centre has closed down and is all boarded up so without us many of our members would simply be doing nothing. The kids love being a part of it – they love the dancing, the fitness, the discipline and the sense of achievement.

"They are enjoying themselves doing exactly what children should be doing.

"I am so proud of them because everyone wants to see them and it's great for the community."

Also receiving funding is Bloxwich Tennis Club, which will use £4,750 to provide tennis coaching to the community. The club is based in Leamore Park and is hoping to develop its adult and 12-15 year old sections to go along with a thriving under 11s squad.

Other projects receiving grants are Rushall JMI School, given £5,940 to provide multi-sports activities, Beacon Church, whose £1,760 award will help stage a community festival, and Sneyd Community Association, whose £5,277 award will help run swimming classes.