THE latest recipients of grants totalling more than £9,000 in Shepton Mallet have been announced.

The cash has been handed to community groups in the area by Shepton Mallet Town Council after nominations closed in March.

“We recognise the importance to local groups and organisations in the community and know that without additional funding many would struggle to deliver their essential services,” said a spokesperson.

“We run two rounds of grant funding a year and give groups one-off amounts as well as entering into service-level agreements to fund projects on a more long-term basis.”

Shepton Mallet Town Council has awarded the following groups a grant in the latest round:

• Amulet Centre Limited: A volunteer-led community group working towards getting the Amulet back in community use. Financial help has been awarded to run a Summer of Cinema, which will see films shown every weekend during the school summer holidays.
• Somerset Prostate Support Association: Financial support given to provide free drop-in prostate testing for Men at Croscombe village hall throughout May.
• Tadley Acres Garden: A volunteer group that maintains the community garden in Tadley Acres. Financial support given for them to buy items for the garden.
• Shepton Artist/SMart: A collective of artists that support the creative arts in Shepton Mallet. Funding provided for an annual arts exhibition showcasing some of Shepton Mallets finest artists.
• We Hear You: A local cancer counselling charity that operates across Bath, Trowbridge, Chippenham and Shepton Mallet. Awarded financial aid to support counselling services in Shepton Mallet.
• Shepton Mallet Community Woodland: A charity run by volunteers which maintains a community woodland in Shepton Mallet. Grant awarded for new tools and training for volunteers.
• Men’s Shed: The Men’s Shed aims to provide companionship, activities and the opportunity to learn and share skills for people of any age. Grant will help fund an extractor system for their workshop in Shepton Mallet.
• Literally Shepton: Run by volunteers, Literally Shepton is an annual literary festival across Shepton Mallet. A grant will support a book club in Shepton Mallet.