WINCHESTER town forum has revealed its proposed grants for city organisations for the next financial year.

City centre councillors outlined their funding for charities, community and arts groups at a meeting last night.

The largest grants of £20,000 will be given to the Theatre Royal and Citizens Advice Bureau Winchester & District while £11,100 has been earmarked for homeless charity Trinity Winchester.

Community centres and youth groups will also benefit with £4,000 granted to the Carroll Centre, £3,000 for King Alfred Youth Activity Centre, £3,000 for Winnall Rock School and £2,000 for Winchester Young Carers.

But the forum has withdrawn funding to other organisations including the Winchester Festival , Street Reach and Winchester Youth Counselling in accordance with a decision taken last year to focus on its key partners.

Assistant director for economic prosperity, Eloise Appleby, said: “Last year the town forum agreed to remove its contributions to what were considered not to be priority organisations.

“Any cut is a bad cut but I think these are not going to be serious cuts for them.”

The total funding withdrawn is £3,600 but a small grants fund of £5,000 has been set up to compensate.

Councillors also agreed to create a contingency fund of £2,000 in next year’s budget for any group that significantly suffers due to the withdrawal.

Town forum chairman Cllr Brian Collin said: “I suggest we put a small amount aside which will grant us the ability to make up some of these grants. If they make a good case that they seriously underfunded by these cuts we will have a contingency.”