COMMUNITY projects have received a helping hand after councillors allocated grants to help pay for new facilities.

South Oxfordshire district councillors have agreed to hand £740,000 to local groups and councils to get new building and refurbishment projects off the ground.

Moulsford Parish Council will get £250,000 to build a new sports pavilion and Henley Cricket Club was awarded the same amount to update its pavilion.

Kidmore End Parish Council was awarded £200,000 to build a new sports pavilion, while Didcot Methodist Church received £40,000 for an extension and to improve heating.

Rodney Mann, the council’s cabinet member for finance, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer grants to these groups in order to improve their community facilities.

“It’s so important to expand schemes such as these to encourage community development and provide residents with vital facilities.

“By being able to contribute, we’re able to show our commitment to improving facilities and quality of life, and this gives support to the individual groups who, down to hard work and determination, are able to provide services for their communities.”

For details of the council’s grant schemes, see soxon.gov.uk