MORE than 80 groups and initiatives have been given a boost after receiving a total of £36,000 from Wyre Forest district councillors.

The members donated the cash from their community leadership fund. They were each given £1,000 during 2012-13 to support worthwhile initiatives, projects and activities they felt would benefit their wards.

Kidderminster Food Bank was the most popular organisation supported, with 11 councillors allocating a total of £1,650.

Walshes Community Partnership received a £500 cash injection from Labour’s James Shaw. He also gave £200 of his fund to Stourport Town Council.

Another organisation to benefit from the fund was Kidderminster Hospital League of Friends.

Independent Community and Health Concern (ICHC) councillor Graham Ballinger gave £500 to help the group. He also allocated £250 to the Kidderminster Food Bank and £250 to Wyre Forest Dial-A-Ride.

Meanwhile, three councillors gave an extra cash boost towards the development of a new education centre, run by Kidderminster College, at Brinton Park.

Conservative members Marcus Hart, Tracey Onslow and council leader John Campion contributed £2,000 between them.

Andy Dobson, college principal, said: “The community leadership fund has helped us to develop an impressive new education centre, which provides our land-based studies students with a purpose-designed space for discussion and study, as well as a kitchen. The new centre means our students, some of whom have learning difficulties, can work towards an accredited qualification and gain practical work experience with the council’s parks and green spaces team.”

Other uses of the fund included a £500 boost for the Citizens Advice Bureau from Liberal councillor Fran Oborski.

Kidderminster Harriers Community Scheme receiving her other £500 donation.

Conservative councillor Ian Hardiman, the district council’s cabinet member for community wellbeing, said: “The community leadership fund gives councillors an opportunity to invest in initiatives they feel will benefit the district and their ward.

“The money is making a big difference to a wide range of organisations.”