Cash boost for Wells' St Lawrence Centre encourages health activities

A £6,000 boost to the St Lawrence Centre in Wells will help the community to take on more healthy activities, say councillors.

Somerset County Council has awarded £65,000 in grants to community groups and centres across the county – the St Lawrence Centre was awarded £6,000 from the council's Community Enablement Fund.

The St Lawrence Centre is a local hub that allows Wells community groups can hire the building regularly for a number of activities including Active Living Groups.

John Osman, Leader of Somerset County Council and County Councillor for Wells, said: "I am delighted to provide this grant to the St Lawrence Centre.

Headded: "I have met with the residents who attend the centre and they are wonderful people. This grant will allow them to get out and about and undertake some healthy activities."

Other local centres that have received grants include Frome's Personal Achievement and Creative Experience (PACE) centre – formally the Gore Hedge Day Centre – which provides day groups helping those with physical disabilities become more independent.

In Frome, Personal Achievement and Creative Experience (PACE) has received £5,000. The facility, formally known as The Gore Hedge Day Centre, provides day groups for people with physical disabilities and the grant will assist the groups to work towards becoming more independent.

Councillor David Huxtable, responsible for setting up the Community Enablement Fund, said: "The creation of the Community Enablement Fund has allowed us to support communities and organisations at a local level.

"We want to encourage more people to come forward with innovative projects and ideas to deliver quality, cost-effective services.

"Communities can continue to make applications to apply for grants by contacting their County Councillor, and applications will be considered up until 31 January."