GRANTS totalling more than £120,000 have been awarded to 12 youth groups in the county — including a youth club on the verge of closure.

The money, which comes from Oxfordshire County Council, forms part a drive “to increase the role of youngsters in shaping their own future”.

Applications were considered by panels of young people.

County councillor Louise Chapman, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said the aim of the funding was to give a voice to young people, particularly disadvantaged young people, and improve things to do and places to go in their neighbourhoods.

She said: “We are delighted to be able to provide this financial support and wish everyone involved every success in the future.”

The following groups received the following amounts of money: OFVM, Film Oxford £6,700; Cherwell Theatre Company £4,300; Radley Youth Club £3,169; Topaz Group, Banbury £400; Spreading the Roots, Oxford £7,500; Emmanuel Church, Oxford £4,478; Barnardo’s £5,500; St Luke’s Church, Oxford £5,750; Oxford Youth Works £7,500; 35th Oxford Scout Group £11,000 and Oxford Young Carers Project £15,042.

In addition, Oxfordshire Playbus received £7,500 to provide free activities across the county throughout the summer holidays, including coaching and equipment for sailing, canoeing and hockey.

The charity also received £50,000 to convert a bus into a mobile youth centre for rural areas in the county.

The bus will include a range of features including a recording studio.

Radley Youth Club plans to spend its grant on refurbishing pool and table tennis tables and buying a computer console.

It is also launching an art project to brighten up the village hall.

Club leader Chris Gasson said: “We are over the moon.

“Just a few weeks ago we were almost on the verge of closure. We were getting eight or 10 people through the door. But when we heard we had been successful and got the cheque through a couple of weeks ago, word spread through the village and we started getting people coming again.

“We are now getting 25 people through the door.

“I’m delighted because I’ve just celebrated being leader for 10 years — it was the icing on the cake.”

Barnado’s will use its grant to pay for a trip to Cheddar Gorge in Somerset for young people in the county with a range of conditions including Down’s syndrome, autism and epilepsy, while Cherwell Theatre Company will use its to set up a training course for children to learn about and perform Shakespeare plays.

Funding is still available for further applications.

tshepherd@oxfordmail.co.uk l Download an application form at spired.com/funding/ forms.htm l Club under threat: Page 15