FIVE community groups in Whitchurch have been awarded £250 from a fund to support community projects.

The Inner Wheel Club, St Alkmund's Church, Whitchurch Walkers, the Queensway Area Residential and Recreational Association and the Brownlow Community Centre Trust were the recepients of grants from the Freedom Fund.

The Freedom Fund launched in October last year and the fund open again this year to provide support for even more community groups.

The fund is part of Freedom Fibre which is rolling out its network to homes in Whitchurch and chief executive Neil McArthur is looking forward to seeing its impact.

He said: "I’m absolutely delighted that we have been able to make awards to these very worthy causes.

"Playing our part in the communities in which we are working is so important to us.

"I can’t wait to see these projects come to fruition."

A spokesperson for the fund said: "The Inner Wheel Club of Whitchurch received £250 to continue adopting derelict pieces of land across the town to transform them in to community gardens. 

"St. Alkmund’s Church was awarded £250 for green improvements at the church, including creating bug hotels, installing bird boxes and putting in an information board. 

"Whitchurch Walkers were awarded £250 to help raise promote the group’s ‘Walkers are Welcome’ campaign throughout the town.

"The Queensway Area Residential and Recreational Association received £250 to plant a range of pollinating plants across Queensway Playing Fields.

"The Brownlow Community Centre Trust was awarded £250 to replace fluorescent lighting with more efficient, environmentally friendly LED lighting."

North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan praised the recepients for the work they do and believes the fund will be a benefit.

She said: "All of these groups provide really valuable services for their local communities so I’m delighted they’ve seized the chance to benefit from this extremely useful funding."

You can find out more about the scheme via https://www.freedomfibre.com/