NINE groups in Oxforshire which work with children and young people will share more than £28,500 in grants.

The money will come from Oxfordshire County Council’s Chill Out Fund.

However, the organisations receiving grants may be among the last to get help under the scheme, which could be dropped as part of the council’s efforts to save £106m from its budget over the next five years.

A variety of schemes have been supported, including dance studios and theatre groups.

Multi-Arts Programme, based in Oxford and Banbury, has been given £5,000 for a video project.

Development worker Ben Johnson said: “We’re going to build a sculptural figure with screens in place of the head, heart and hands.

“We do a lot of creative arts work to work with vulnerable young people and reflect on challenges in their lives.”

Young people, from the north of the county, will work with a professional sculptor to make the figure.

Then they will work on short films, which would be shown on the different screens.

Their thoughts would be showcased on the ‘head screen’, their hopes and ambitions in place of their heart, and what they could do to achieve it being shown in their hands.

Mr Johnson said: “The cool thing about this is we can work with lots of young people, whose work can then be shown in that one sculpture.

“We’re hoping it will go to exhibitions, museums, maybe even shopping centres. It’s very exciting.”

Flair Dance Studio, which holds classes at St Gregory the Great School, in East Oxford, received £2,280 towards the cost of a trip to compete in a televised dance competition in Norway.

The Blackbird Leys-based Dovecote Voluntary Parent Committee will benefit from an additional £2,866 to spend on activities during the winter.

Money will also go towards a four-month mentoring project working with young people in Oxford aimed at changing their antisocial behaviour thanks to £3,900 pledged towards Oxford City Council’s Positive Futures programme.

North Witney Community Church is getting £400 for its monthly cheerleading club, while Abingdon’s Peachcroft Christian Centre has been awarded £3,000 to spend on developing children’s social skills and physical activities.

Freeland Football Club has £1,187 to spend on kit and Cherwell Theatre Company is getting a £4,950 grant.

The final group to receive cash will be the Sweatbox in Wantage.

It has been given £5,000 to spend on developing its alcohol and drug advice sessions.