COMMUNITY groups in Blackbird Leys are all set for the summer after an unusually high £22,694 in grants was dished out by the parish council.

A total of 10 organisations working on the estate received a share of the money, including the Dovecote Project to fund its under-threat after school club.

Carol Richards, family services co-ordinator at the hub in Nightingale Avenue, said: "We are doing really well now.

"The parish council and two councillors gave us money from their budget, and we got £5,000 from Comic Relief that was totally unexpected. We are definitely relieved."

In February this year, Dovecote issued a desperate plea for funds after it fell £50,000 short of its £60,000 annual running costs and was facing closure this September.

But Mrs Richards said it was now safe until at least March 2017 and staff were preparing for a jam-packed summer full of activities at the centre.

She said: "It was looking so dismal, but all of a sudden things are turning around. We are reaching the kids we need to reach and are going to have a successful summer."

Fellow staff member Rachel Marsh added: "It has been really positive. It's so good going into the holidays saying 'Yes, we will be back in September'."

Blackbird Leys Parish Council awards grants twice a year, with last June's spending totalling just £16,265.

Chairman Gordon Roper said the Dovecote funds were an emergency grant, adding: "We wanted to keep it going because otherwise it could fold at the end of the year."

Elsewhere the Blackbird Leys Neighbourhood Support Scheme was also awarded £5,000, while the Leys News publication and the Leys Festival and Horticultural Show each received just over £3,000. Other groups including Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground and the Church of the Holy Family received smaller amounts.

Of the support scheme, Mr Roper said: "It's something brilliant for the estate. Leys News we also want to keep because they involve people from different organisations.

"The Leys Festival money was for this year; we were there from 10.30am and I didn't leave until 4.30pm but it was a good turnout all round."

One of the lesser-known groups to receive a grant this year was the Leys Voice, an informal residents' feedback group originally set up by Oxford City Council.

Locals now have £2,000 to spend on organising a second Christmas lights switch-on following the first ever last year.

Group member Russell Price said: "We were aware we needed a grant from the parish council if we were going to make it happen and it's wonderful news that in their wisdom they have given us funds. We want to make it a real community project."