Christchurch Baldock has been awarded a total of £1,325 following the Baldock Area Forum.

Christchurch have been awarded three separate grants for three different projects:

£700 for craft resources, catering and hiring of premises for their holiday club for any young families to attend (pictured).

£250 towards hall hire and refreshments for their regular toddler and baby groups, so they can reduce or waive the attendance fee where appropriate.

£375 to replace equipment and subsidise food for their Body & Soul weekly classes which provide total fitness for older people, including chair exercises for the body (pictured), singing for the lungs, exercise games for the brain and a time to chat and have a coffee.

Neil Poole, Treasurer at Christchurch Baldock, said: "We are very grateful for the grant and for the support which it signifies.

"The regular groups Body & Soul, Tea & Tots and Tea & Tinies, are preparing for a busy start to the new academic year and are very glad to be able to invest in improving our offer to these valued sections of the community."

Local Area Forums have taken over from our Area Committees. They cover five areas of North Herts – Baldock, Letchworth, Hitchin, Southern Rural and Royston – and take place four times a year.

The new Forums are designed to be less formal and more welcoming to encourage more community participation.

They generally start at 730pm with community grant applications and then themed discussions will take place from around 8pm. Each Forum makes recommendations for funding, and then the Executive Member for Community & Partnerships makes a decision under delegated powers.

Cllr Tom Tyson, Baldock Area Forum Chair, added: "These are fantastic projects, providing what could be the only opportunity for new parents and carers to meet and a regular chance for older people to improve their physical and mental health."

The next Baldock Area Forum will take place online on September 11 at 730pm.