SEVENTEEN community groups in Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge have been handed more than £28,000 in grant funding from the town council.

In the biggest ever grants hand-out from Burnham and Highbridge Town Council, councillors from the council’s finance and resources committee listened to presentations from community groups on Monday (September 9) and reviewed their applications.

The community groups which were given grants include:

n Missy K Kids - £1,700

n Burnham & Highbridge Band - £5,000

n The Zone Youth Club - £3,500

n Burnham United FC - £3,000

n Highbridge Chamber of Trade - £2,500

n Monarchs Gymnastics Club - £2,286

n BEES - £2,000

n Burnham-on-Sea Swimming Club - £1,692

n Burnham Hockey Club £1,500

n Burnham-on-Sea Chamber of Trade - £975

n Burnham and Highbridge Choral Society - £900

n Burnham and Highbridge Fritzlar Twinning Society - £900

n Burnham-on-Sea Baptist Church - £900

n Burnham & District in Bloom - £900

n Go Socialise - £240

n Burnham & Highbridge RAF Cadets - £323.88

n West of England MS Therapy Centre - £300

Missy K Kids, which provides dance sessions to 60 children and 15 adults with learning disabilities, applied for a £10,000 grant towards the cost of repairing a mini-bus, renovations to Highbridge Social Club where the group is based and a trip to Portugal for children to compete in the dance world cup.

However, councillors had reservations about the level of funding the group was applying for and said they would not be happy to hand over £10,000 to the group. Councillors and voted to give them £1,700 to cover the costs of repairing the minibus.

Burnham & Highbridge Band were also successful in securing £5,000 of grant funding towards £13,000 of repairs to the club’s band room which is located next to the Bay Centre playing fields.

The club’s band room has fallen into a state of disrepair over the last few years and councillors voted to approve the club’s application and praised them for doing a ‘fantastic job’ in the town.