Community organisations have received a share of more than £8,000 from the West Bay Car Boot Sale grants.

The 16 causes were approved at a meeting of Bridport Town Council’s best value and scrutiny sub-committee - held at Mountfield earlier this month.

Consideration was given to the notes of the West Bay Car Boot Sale Grants panel - which had met the previous month - with councillors thanking the panel for their work.

Grants totalling £8,850 were then approved to be awarded to the community groups.

The groups benefitting, and the amount they are receiving, is as follows:

  • The Stepping Out Cancer Rehabilitation Community Group has received £1,000 to help fund an exercise and wellbeing programme helping recovery during and after a cancer diagnosis.
  • Home-Start West Dorset has received £1,000 to support running costs.
  • Bridport Musical Theatre Company has received £600 to rent costume storage.
  • The Cowshed, Bridport Health & Wellbeing Champions Project, has received £500 towards its edible forest garden to help volunteers plant and maintain fruits, vegetables and herbs.
  • B-Sharp Bridport Boombox is a weekly out of school music-making project for young people aged 8-13 and has received £500.
  • The entrance to Bridport’s Millennium Green is to be restored after the Trust was awarded £500 to fund clearing, landscaping, and resurfacing work.
  • Gateway Club (West Dorset Mencap) organises club nights for people with learning disabilities - including discos, dancing, and music and movement sessions. It has been given £500.

There is also £500 each for Bridport Young Performers, Bridport Youth Dance, the Jurassic Multicultural Network, Chancery Trips, West Dorset Division Guides, Bridport & District Citizens Advice, and Gift of India Yoga School.

Bridport Youth & Community Centre has received £400 of additional funding, whilst there is £350 for Bridport Heritage Forum.

The weekly car boot raises money for local good causes with the profits being allocated through a grant scheme approved by local councillors.

Those in attendance were Cllr Sarah Carner, Cllr Geoffrey Ackerman, Cllr Anne Rickard, Cllr Sandra Brown, Cllr Steve Williams, as well as Cllr Dave Rickard, Will Austin (town clerk), and Paul Fuszard (finance and office manager).