A BASINGSTOKE charity has celebrated 40 years of supporting the local community by giving away a bumper crop of £250 grants.

Four Lanes Trust, which gives money to arts, voluntary, community and educational groups, agreed a grand total of £12,000 worth of grants at its latest meeting.

The trust, which meets three times a year, usually awards grants of varying amounts to deserving community groups, but to celebrate the special birthday, £12,000 worth of £250 grants was dispatched to 48 different organisations.

The beneficiaries range from schools, theatres, charitable groups, forums, churches and mother and toddler groups, which all work to make the local area a better place to live.

Bob Carr, director of the trust, said they had exceeded their original plan to award 40 grants totalling £10,000.

He said: “The trustees met to award the 40 grants to celebrate our 40th anniversary and in the end they gave out 48.

“We had applications from a wide range of organisations, schools, churches, creative arts groups, Scouts and Guides, community associations and a variety of voluntary and charitable organisations. We were able to support schemes that would benefit the young, the elderly, the disadvantaged and those suffering ill-health and many others.”

Each of the grants has been earmarked for a specific purpose.

Kempshott Junior School, for example, will use its grant to make improvements to a woodland trail in the school grounds, while the £250 awarded to Proteus Theatre will pay for five workshops for adults with mental health issues.

Charity Inspero will use its grant to take its young volunteers for a day out, while Basingstoke Consortium will use the money towards a new computer.

For more information on how to bid for a grant, visit fourlanestrust.org.uk, email bobcarr@fourlt.fsnet.co.uk or call 01256 477990.