CHARITY groups have been boosted with more than £100,000 of grants from the Wiltshire Community Foundation.

Among the recipients is St James’ Church in Devizes, which has been awarded £5,000 over two years towards the cost of a community support worker to run a number of projects in the town.

The Crammer Café is a free twice-weekly after school club run by the support worker and volunteers. More than half of young people who go along are from disadvantaged families.

The church has also begun an annual Going Up, Growing Up Day bringing together 80 year 6 children from primary schools to hep prompt friendships to reduce the stress around starting secondary school.

Curate Rev Richard Saint said: “This money will be put to very good use. The Crammer Café is held in a hall at Devizes School and it’s a safe place where pupils can be themselves and express themselves.”

Pound Arts Centre in Corsham has been given £2,000 for its Dancing Through Time project, which provides fitness and friendship for up to 30 elderly people from the town every week.

Led by a professional dance coach, the chair-based dance sessions promote balance, wellbeing and flexibility but, said the centres deputy programme director Martin Campbell, it prevents those living on their own becoming lonely and isolated.

He said: “We are so grateful for the grant because we just wouldn’t be able to run this project without it.”

Homeless group Doorway, based at Foghamshire in Chippenham, has received £10,000 over two years towards the cost of employing a support services manager. The charity, which helped 214 people in 2019, opens two days a week and offers food, somewhere to wash clothes, a place to chat and support and advice from experts on housing and health.

The support manager works with partner agencies such as Wiltshire Council and the NHs to make sure the vulnerable guests, who often struggle with mental health issues, drug or alcohol addiction or have criminal records, get as much support as possible to get into permanent housing or stay there.

The Wiltshire Outdoor Learning Centre, based in Warminster, has been given £5,000 towards instructor and equipment costs. The centre provides outdoor activities such a tree climbing, kayaking and laser tag, for young people from all over the county who are struggling at school or at home.

The New Road Centre, a day centre for adults with learning disabilities in Marlborough, will receive £5,000 towards its running costs. It offers activities and friendship for young adults with nowhere else to go during the day.

The Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford on Avon has been given £5,000 for its Zone Club, a monthly music and singing club for 40 learning disabled young adults, aged 16 and over and young adults with Downs Syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and visual impairment.

Wiltshire Community Foundation Chief Executive Rosemary Macdonald said: “I am so pleased with the diverse range of groups we’ve been able to fund and the wide range of needs they are tackling, from young and older people to those with disabilities and real challenges in their lives.

“We exist to be a means of funding for groups making a real difference to people in Wiltshire and these grants show that we are fulfilling our mission.”