A TOTAL of 26 community groups, charities and sports clubs who received grants from the Taunton Deane Mayor’s fund awards got together to meet the man behind the handouts.

The fund award ceremony at Queen’s College, Taunton, on Friday followed the completion of the first round of £500 grants from the Mayor’s Fund, built up with cash from the Deane Dragons initiative, curry nights and other fundraising events led by the Mayor Cllr Dave Durdan.

Somerset Community Foundation chief executive Justin Sargent told guests: “Seeing the Mayor’s Fund develop from its inception to the first grants being made has been fantastic for the people of Taunton Deane, and we hope that this grassroots support of community groups and charities will have a long lasting benefit for the local area.”