Two Kingston borough community groups have been awarded £3000 each following their successful bids for support from the Community Grants Programme.

The Community Grants Programme encourages local voluntary and community sector organisations to access funding and expand their capacity.

The Friends of RAF Chessington group will be using the funding to continue their work on the Community Woodland Walk Project, building pathways through the park and supporting the redevelopment of the play area.

The project has already brought back to life swathes of recently unusable pathways and seeks to further develop safe walkways and a wildflower meadow complete with safe disabled access paving.

The Friends of RAF Chessington, said:

"Hurrah, our park is now accessible to everyone!"

"Thanks to a community grant and the support of many local residents, ward councillors and Idverde, we now have a proper pathway around the park.

W"e also have plans to improve the park's biodiversity with a new wildflower meadow and to create a new access point so even more people can enjoy this wonderful space."

The Save the World Club will be using the funding to continue supporting the South of the Borough based Angels of the Hood.

This group of volunteers deliver food to vulnerable and needy individuals across the neighbourhood. On average this group of 26 local volunteers collects and distributes an average of 5 tons of food a week, supporting those who are self-isolating and shielding.

They estimate thus far over 3500 deliveries to these households, as well as the Surbiton YMCA and Kingston Hospital.

The grant will pay the expenses of the volunteers, who all use their own transport to deliver food and to pay to power additional fridges and freezers being used to keep donated food fresh.

Cllr Lorraine Dunstone, Chair of the South of the Borough Committee said:

"Councillors in South of the Borough are really proud to be able to support both of these initiatives, the groups work really hard within the community and what they do is very much appreciated, particularly during these difficult times."

For more information about Kingston Council's Community Grants Programme, please visit the grants webpage HERE