STAFF at the Wiltshire Scrapstore and Resource Centre in Lacock are celebrating after a successful bid for a grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

The centre in Bowden Hill was informed that it would be receiving an Award for All from the lottery fund for £9,480.

Director of the Wiltshire Scrapstore, Jane Wheeler, applied for the funding so the group could support and deliver creative activities for community groups across the county.

“We found out about two weeks ago. Every year we are asked by umpteen groups to support community events. Obviously they don’t have the money to do it all themselves so we pay for people to go out and help. As we are a charity we cannot afford to support every single event but with this grant we can now look forward to helping 20 different community activities throughout the year,” said Mrs Wheeler.

On average, the team at the scrapstore are asked to help around 20 events a year, helping to encourage people to engage in social activities and improve the environment.

“Without even publicising the fact we received this grant we have already had seven applications from groups. So far I can confirm we will be going to the Cygnet Pre-school at Westbury Leigh for its family fun day on May 20 and we will also be going to St John’s School in Trowbridge on July 1 for its school fair,” Mrs Wheeler added.

The centre will now be able to financially support the events by sending members of the group to these activities without having to rely on volunteers.

“A lot of the events will be taking place over the summer months, we are hoping to try and do as many across the county. Now we have the grant we can actually pay people to do things over weekends, before we would rely on volunteers which would mean they would do it for free and give up part of their weekend,” said Mrs Wheeler.