COMMUNITY groups and aspiring sports stars have been handed grants to help them fulfil their ambitions.

Five groups and individuals have received a share of Wyre Forest District Council’s Xpression grant scheme, which is backed by The Shuttle and is aimed at supporting sports and arts groups in the area.

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

Community Broadcast Channels (CBC) have been awarded £1,000 to go towards its Weave heritage project, which will involve a short film and accompanying documentary conveying a love story set against Kidderminster’s carpet industry through the ages.

Coralie Hudson, one of the producers on the project said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive this funding.

“It means we are able to offer more opportunities to people in our local area to undertake roles in the production process whilst being mentored by professional industry film crew to develop their talents.”

Kidderminster’s British Junior 10k road running champion Sam Lloyd-Perks has been awarded £400 to enable him to compete in a series of national championships in the coming months.

He said: "I'm over the moon to have received a grant from the Xpression scheme.

“The support I have been given is only something I can repay with hard work and strong performances. To have the financial support to continue chasing a dream is a complete blessing.”

The Friends of Broadwaters have been given £600 towards a £4,000 mural project that will see artists Jo and Kate de Burgh working with St. Oswald's and King Charles 1 Schools in September to create a new mural to replace the art work in the Mill building.

Jane Abraham, Fund-raiser from the group, said: “We are delighted that we are able to renew the art work and engage another group of young people who we hope will take ownership of this community space.”

Another grant recipient Conor Di Leo has been awarded £892 to help achieve his and a group of fellow students’ aims of putting on a live music event in Kidderminster.

He said: “We are a group of students full of passion and faith in the local music scene. We believe this event can unite the music scene and finally create a new social culture for emerging bands and fans to meet, play and socialise.”

And Stourport dancer Damon Gould has been awarded £400 to help him pay for his uniform and living costs when he starts his dream course at a prestigious dance school.

He said: “I will be attending Laine Theatre Arts this September and have been awarded a DaDa (Dance and Drama award) which pays for all my fees for the course but does not pay for all the maintenance, living costs and uniform. My family have sacrificed so much for me to do what I love so I’m ready to make everyone proud.”