Malton, Norton and District Lions Club has awarded £6,000 to local charities in their Community Awards 2024 scheme after stiff competition for the grants.

The annual awards of up to £600 have been distributed to 11 organisations, including Brooklyn Junior Football Club, Sight Support Ryedale and Ryedale Remakes to contribute to and fund small projects in their organisations.

A variety of groups and organisations benefited from the fund to purchase items and deliver projects, from training courses for football coaches, to a new Table Tennis table for a Rillington Club and running a summer school by Ryedale Youth Theatre.

Lion President, Lindsay Wrightson, said: “This year we were inundated with applications to our Community Awards and received more requests for support than ever before since they were launched in the Lions International 100th Anniversary year in 2017. We usually receive around 25 applications – this year we had 43 organisations apply for grants.

“We had some difficult decisions to make, but are absolutely delighted to again support some great local charities, clubs and other organisations who carry out amazing work locally.

“We also try to award grants to groups across all age groups in the community which we have definitely managed to do this year, from pre-school children in Norton receiving books via The Dollywood Foundation to older people being provided with Christmas lunches later in the year.

“We aim to support local charities and groups who may be finding it difficult to source grants in these challenging economic times. We want to provide grants to help support projects that these smaller charities and organisations really want to deliver locally and just need a modest grant to support their work.”

Grants were awarded to: Brooklyn Junior Football Club, West Heslerton Junior Football Club. Ryedale Remakes, United Martial Arts, Springhead School, Ryedale Youth Theatre. Vine Street Imagination Library. Sight Support Ryedale, Rillington Table Tennis Club, Christmas Cheer and Ryedale YMCA