THE LATEST round of causes benefitting from grants from a local trust have been announced.

The Four Lanes Trust, which gives grants to good causes in and around Basingstoke and the surrounding area, has given out nearly £6,000 this time.

Following its March meeting, the trust awarded a grand total of £5,724 to nine local causes.

One of the groups to benefit from a donation was the Tadley branch of Age Concern’s lunch club, which has been awarded £1,000 towards refurbishing the minibus that the club uses.

One of the team running the club, Vicky Braseby, said: “Our old bus has done us very well, but with a lot of the group now in their 80s and 90s, we need to update it. All the funding that we are getting will be going towards upgrading our minibus to make it easier to use.

“We are looking to add a tail lift, as well as steps, to make the bus more accessible to the people who need to use it.

“People and organisations like the Four Lanes Trust have been very generous in all the amounts that have been given, and we are really excited to get the improvements to our bus.”

Other projects benefitting from the money include the setting up of a 40th anniversary exhibition for the Overton Photographic Club, equipment for the community centre run by the Kingsclere Community Association and a theatre skills project for adults with dementia in Basingstoke.

The trust gives grants of usually between £500-£1,500, although can give more. They will consider any local group or cause, even if it just setting up, with the main focus being social and community action, education and the arts.

After setting up in 1974, the trust has given out more than £1.25m in grants to more than 750 groups.

For more information to apply for a grant, go to fourlanestrust.org.uk. Alternatively, contact Bob Carr on 01256 477 990 or fourlanestrust@gmail.com.