Eleven organisations have been given thousands of pounds to provide services for Sutton residents in 2017 and beyond.

The Community Fund scheme, financed by Sutton Council, handed out £46,829 to groups including those that help people with learning disabilities, offer group exercise classes and give advice to refugees.

Hazel East, session leader at Knots Art, said: “A grant from the Sutton Community Fund means that we can continue to provide fun and exciting sessions for girls with autism and social communication difficulties living in and around Sutton.

“For many girls that attend this is their only social interaction each week and it is vital that they have a safe space in which they can make friends with others who understand the difficulties that they face. We are hugely grateful for the support.”

Councillor Simon Wales, deputy leader of Sutton Council and lead member for finance, assets and the voluntary sector, said: “We want to congratulate the local organisations that have been successful in their applications.

“There is a strong voluntary sector in Sutton and this funding will go towards securing the future of these local organisations and supporting them to deliver their invaluable work in our community.

“We’ll be working closely with our partners across the voluntary sector as we strive to deliver brilliant and cost-effective services for Sutton residents in the years to come. The Community Fund grants will help them to prepare for this challenge.”

To apply for the Sutton Community Fund grants that gives organisations between £300 and £10,000 to projects in the borough click here.

The list of fund recipients for 2017 includes:

  • Surrey Youth Focus - £5,000
  • Knots Art - £4,595
  • RACE - £1,680
  • Refugee and Migrant Network Sutton - £2,662
  • Riverside Community Association - £1,975
  • Riverside Community Association - £5,650
  • Sutton Mencap - £5,467
  • Carshalton Beeches Baptist Free Church - £3,200
  • Gary Mason Charity - £3,000
  • In Unity Ltd - £5,000
  • St Teresa’s Church -£5,000
  • Together We Create - £3,600