GRANTS totalling more than £10,000 have been given out to local groups and charities by the Four Lanes Trust.

In this, the 97th round of grants, £10,126.41 was split between 10 deserving causes across the borough.

The top grant of £2,000 was awarded to the Basingstoke Rape and Sexual Abuse Crisis Centre to support the Volunteer Training Project.

Other projects to benefit are:

Whitchurch Youth Project - £1,740

English Touring Opera - £1,200 for community outreach work that pupils at John Hunt of Everest Community School are involved with

Create (Arts) Ltd - £1,121 to support an arts project for children at Basingstoke hospital

Funky Monkeys - £1,000 for set-up costs for a new mother and baby group

SeeAbility Heather House, Tadley - £750 to fit out Fir Tree Lodge extension

Learning Through Action - £715.41 to buy equipment to support a drugs education course for young people

Overton Recreation Centre - £600 to improve disabled facilities

Friends of Kingsclere School (PTA) - £500 to buy outdoor equipment for school and pre-school children

The Making - £500 for transport costs for Street Art project.

Bob Carr, director of the trust, said: "We had a great range of applications this year. I was very pleased to see an even mix of arts, community and education-related grant applications.

"We have tried to help as many organisations as we can and welcome new applications for the next round of grants, announced in March 2006."

The Four Lanes Trust gives money to people with ideas and projects, primarily in the fields of social and community action, education and the arts, which will improve life in Basingstoke and the surrounding district.

Anyone who believes a grant from the trust might help a local group or charity can contact Bob Carr on 01256 477990 or e-mail applications@fourlanestrust.org.uk

First published: Monday, November 28, 2005