LEIGHTON-Linslade Town Council has handed out thousands of pounds in grants to local organisations and projects.

The awards were approved by the council's Policy and Finance Committee and presented to representatives of the many groups by the Town Mayor, Councillor George Rolfe, at The White House last Thursday.

The council said it continues to appreciate and support the important work of the towns' many local organisations.

All the following community groups, clubs and associations were handed grants towards their individual projects:

Leighton Heath District Guiding Association – £300 for leader training in first aid and food hygiene.

Linleighbridge District Guiding – £500 for leaders first aid training.

4th Leighton Buzzard Guides – £300 to enable involvement in Girlguiding National Community Action Project.

Buzzard Rangers – £500 Midas Test fee and leader training plus new equipment.

3rd Leighton Buzzard Brownies – £181 for a 'Play' Parachute.

Church Riverside Scout Group – £500 for repair work to site entrance and hard standing.

Woodcraft Folk Brookland Elfins – £500 for equipment and hall rental.

Mentmore Road Under Fives – £250 for new equipment (Ofsted recommendation)

Hockliffe St Pre School – £250 for science/ maths equipment

Linslade Lower School Association – £400 for eight apple and plum trees with stakes and ties.

Greenleas Parent Teacher Association – £500 for equipment for after school club.

KidsOut – £500 for summer play activities.

Pasque Charity – £500 for hospice support.

New Directions Counselling Service – £500 to support service provision.

Mind – £500 towards a programme of arts, crafts and horticultural activities.

Leighton Buzzard Branch Parkinson's Disease Society – £500 for a projector to help with talks and information.

Leighton-Linslade Homeless Service – £500 for service co-ordinators.

Leighton Buzzard and District Archaeology and Historical Society – £500 for maps, photographs etc for a book on history of the town.

Leighton Buzzard Bridge Club – £500 for an electronic scoring system.

Leighton Buzzard Railway – £500 for improvements at Vandyke Curve.

Riverside WI – £250 towards an educational visit to the Houses of Parliament.

Steppingstone Garden Association – £500 for flooding prevention and purchase of a mature tree.

Greensand Trust – £500 for a circus skills, workshop and marquee at the Big Greenie.

Friends of Linslade Wood – £250 towards tools and materials for a family fun day.

Guaranteed Grants:

Leighton-Linslade and District Citizens' Advice Bureau – £7,000 for care advice service.

Voluntary and Community Action South Bedfordshire – £2,400 towards core costs.

Leighton-Linslade Town Twinning Association – £550 towards hosting a twinning event in 2009.

Leighton-Linslade Arts Forum – £2,400 in grants for local arts groups and towards the 2009 Music and Arts Festival.

Leighton-Linslade Carnival Committee – £550 to help organise and run the carnival.