SIX lucky individuals and groups have scooped cash from a grant scheme to help them fulfil their sports and arts ambitions .

They have all received a generous share of Wyre Forest District Council’s Xpression grant fund, which is backed by The Shuttle and was set up to support sports, arts, heritage and environmental projects in the district.

It also incorporates the Ray Mercer Sporting Foundation, set up by The Shuttle in 1995.

The five groups received part of a £3,300 total share-out to get them one step closer to their dreams.

Aspiring archer Callum Milnes was given £400 of the Ray Mercer fund to pay for new equipment after being accepted on to the Archery GB Talent Programme .

The 19-year-old Kidderminster Academy student needs the equipment to help him compete.

“I think it’s great that I received the money,” he said.

Dancer Kimberley Clarke, of Kidderminster, also received £400 of the sports grant to develop an individual dance routine for Kidderminster Arts Festival later this year and to showcase local performance art for local people .

She will use the cash to pay the fees of the danc-ers and for travel and expenses .

Jewellery-making ses-sions for people with learning difficulties will now be held at the Our Way Self Advocacy gr oup, Kidderminster, after it was given £750 from the Xpression fund to run the sessions.

It is hoped the six-weekly sessions, wh ich will be held at the group’s offices in Church Street, will help boost the self-esteem of users, many of whom have autism.

The money will be used for room hire, refreshments and materials.

Another applicant to receive a share of the grant was the New Horizons youth arts group .

It was also given a £750 boost to put on a dance and drama production for young adults with learning difficulties, at the Rose Theatre, Kidderminster, next month.

The Wheeley Different Theatre Company received £700 to help with the running and promotion of a theatre group for adults with physical and learning difficulties and to start up wheelchair dancing at Kidderminster Town Hall.

Meanwhile, the Wyre Forest Leisure Project, at the Odell Trust, Kidderminster, scooped £300 to provide archery and water sports for adults with learning disabilities.