A DOZEN sports clubs, village halls and other community projects have received a funding windfall.

A total of £250,000 has been awarded to 12 new projects by the North York Moors, Coast and Hills Leader Programme.

One of those to receive the funding includes Loftus Cricket and Athletic Club, which was awarded £11,500 to turn a derelict site into a community games centre for football, basketball, tennis and netball.

The new facility will be used to provide coaching sessions and young people will be encouraged to get involved. Work on the £24,000 project is due to begin in spring.

Hinderwell Sports Club, near Whitby received £15,900 to build female changing rooms so it can now cater for women. Plans are in place to add grass volleyball and hockey once the facility is open in summer.

Osmotherley Village Hall, near Northallerton, managed to raise more than £10,000 of its own funds in addition to the Leader grant of £9,900 to renovate its village hall.

And Wilton Village Hall, near Pickering, which has embarked on a £59,000 project, will receive £19,750 to help ugrade the hall, making it accessible in the winter and to provide meeting place for younger and older generations.

The programme has also supported a number of Small Scale Enhancement Schemes across the North York Moors, East Cleveland, Hambleton and coastal areas.

The scheme is offering support of up to £5,000 to small projects that meet certain criteria.

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