COMMUNITY groups from across Torfaen are celebrating after receiving shares of a £75,000 funding pot in a grant giving ceremony.

The ‘Community Fund: Your Voice, Your Choice’ grant making event selected 26 projects from hundreds of applicants, giving them a chance to bid for sums of up to £5,000.

The event — which took place at Newport Civic Centre —is a partnership between the Gwent High Sheriff’s Community Fund and the Officer of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

Over 100 people attended the event over the weekend showcasing a wide range of projects ranging from community arts groups and youth centres to schemes tackling domestic violence and abuse.

Each group was invited to make two-minute presentations and attendees voted on a scale of one to 10 to help decide the winners.

On the day, 22 groups were successful in their bids, receiving a combined total of around £74,000.

Eight community projects from Torfaen were successful in the fund, receiving a combined total of over £30,000.

Winners included Blaenavon Pact Youth Panel — who will work with young people to promote Blaenavon’s World Heritage Site — and other projects such as Northville Community Group.

A Facebook post by Danielle Aicardi, of Northville Community Group, said she was “ecstatic” to “seal the deal” for £3,330 funding to allow the group to start a project called “Give and Take”.

The fund will allow the group to run events throughout 2017, to purchase equipment and to hold their first community festival.

Parents of Play Information Torfaen (POPIT), received £4,000 funding to help them provide respite sessions for children and youngsters with disabilities.

POPIT chairman Bryn Parker described the funding as a “big thing” and said “there are many people out there who need help from our organisation”.

Friends of Henllys Local Nature Reserve were awarded £4,000 to improve access on the reserve by building a 200m path and working with school pupils and volunteers.

Youth group Randomz, who “lost everything” when their premises were destroyed by fire earlier this year also received £4,980 funding to build a new workshop.

Project officer at Randomz, James Taylor, said he was “over the moon” with the funding decision.

“I was a bit nervy at the start but it’s a relief to hear it. It’s going to make a massive difference as after the fire we had to start again," he said.

“We can pull together now, put the money in the right places and get the young people back doing what they want to do”.

TOG’s Disabled Childrens' Centre, in New Inn, received £4,000 to provide activities for the local community and to “remove barriers” put in place by “additional needs”.

Following a creative presentation, Torfaen Sea Cadets were awarded £4,000 funding to purchase new boating equipment to “enable greater opportunities for the cadets”.

Pontypool-based Cyfannol Women’s Aid will also use their £3,420 to develop a project to support victims of domestic abuse in the Monmouthshire area.

Gwent PCC, Jeff Cuthbert, speaking at the event, said: “I know that it’s very difficult for a lot of groups as money is very very tight.

“Nevertheless, it’s essential that we do what we can together with key partners like the High Sheriff’s department to make sure that good work in the community is properly rewarded.”

The High Sheriff thanked Newport City Council’s Mayor, Cllr David Atwell, the funders who “issued the grants” and the visitors who took part and announced plans to hold next year’s event in Caerphilly county borough.

Below is the full list of Torfaen groups that were awarded funding.

Parents of Play Information Torfaen (POPIT) £4,000

Northville Community group, £3,330

Blaenavon Pact Youth Panel, £4,400

Randomz, £4,980

Friends of Henllys Local Nature Reserve, £4,000

Torfaen Sea Cadets, £4,000

TOG’s Disabled Children’s Centre £4,000

Cyfannol Women’s Aid (project will be based in Monmouthshire) £3,420