Grants made to children's groups

Six Gloucestershire organisations working with vulnerable children have been awarded government funding.

The successful bids were picked from 47 by a panel including 16 young people, who helped make assessments and the final decisions.

The Area Based Grant scheme's largest award, of £80,269, was made to Gloucestershire Dance which aims to help 945 young people over 18 months.

It works to increase diversity and the quality of dance across the county.

It hosts courses which focus on disadvantaged children and those with disabilities.

SUCCESSFUL BIDS Gloucestershire Dance £80,269 Forest Pulse £75,660 Winston's Wish £70,391 Shelter £47,646 Gloucestershire Night Stop £44,968 Tall Ships Youth Trust £21,059

Gloucestershire County Councillor Steve McMillan, Cabinet Member for Young People, said: "These organisations are already doing really good work supporting some of the county's most vulnerable children and young people.

"This funding will ensure they can target much-needed services to the children and young people that need them."

Forest Pulse received the second largest grant to support its work with children and their families who live or go to school in the Forest of Dean.

It offers an out-of-school activity programme including a four-week summer play scheme and the Independence Project to young people manage without parental support.