COMMUNITY groups and organisations have received a £60,000 windfall in grants from Wokingham Town Council.

The Mayor, Cllr Philip Harding, presented cheques to 23 groups at the town council’s annual meeting in the town hall last Wednesday.

This year focused on young children and people with disabilities with several groups receiving grants for the first time.

Chestnuts Pre-school in Woosehill was presented with a cheque for £2,000 which will be used towards a new £35,000 building.

Pam Mulshaw, chairman of Chestnuts Pre-school, said: “Parents and staff at the pre-school have been busy fund-raising for almost a year to try to get our new building up and running and have already raised £26,000.

“Every penny makes a difference and this money will be invaluable in helping us achieve our dream of a new pre-school for the children of Woosehill.”

Addington Playscheme was presented with £1,000 and Thames Valley Adventure Playground in Slough — which is used by children with disabilities from Wokingham — received £500.

Wokingham and district Mencap received £500 and the Westmead Support Group, a registered charity set up 10 years ago to provide support and resources to the Westmead Centre in Rances Lane, was handed £400.

Bert Arnold, chairman of the support group, said: “The town council have very kindly given us this money which we hope to use to upgrade the software in the centre’s computer room.

“Tutors from Bracknell and Wokingham College regularly come to the centre to teach the clients and the new software will help educate clients and encourage their development.”

Parental support was also given a boost with £500 being donated to Wokingham Centre for Parents.

The town council also made two grants of £10,000 and £500 to Wokingham Volunteer Centre towards the centre’s mobility scheme and administrative support.

Among the other donations were grants of £8,400 to Wokingham Lions Club for the May Fayre; £5,300 to Wokingham Job Support Centre, and £4,000 each to ReadiBus and Keep Mobile.

Cllr Harding added: “On many occasions the money we have donated has allowed groups to get started and many have since applied for cash from lottery grants and other benefactors and proved to be successful.

“We are of course, delighted once again to be giving money to so many worthwhile causes and community projects in the area.”