WHITEHILL Town Council has handed out £45,000 in grants to four of town organisations to help with their costs of providing amenities, entertainment and services to residents.

The grants were awarded from Whitehill Town Council’s major grant scheme at a meeting of the council’s policy and resources committee on last Monday, March 7. The awards were:

* £19,000 to The Phoenix Theatre and Arts Centre, at Barbados House in Bordon’s Station Road.

* £6,000 to the Whitehill and Bordon Community Association, with a further £2,000 earmarked subject to conditions. The association manages the Forest Community Centre, in Pinehill Road, Bordon, and Pinewood Village Hall, in Rydal Close, Bordon.

* £11,000 to East Hampshire Citizens Advice, which has an office at the Forest Community Centre.

* £9,000 to the Whitehill and Bordon Town Partnership, which organises events in Whitehill and Bordon including the annual firework display which it has taken over from the Army, which ran the event until its departure from the town last year.

Rob Allerston, director of The Phoenix Theatre and Arts Centre, told the Bordon Herald: “On behalf of The Phoenix trustees, I’d like to thank Whitehill Town Council for its ongoing faith and support for The Phoenix Theatre and Arts Centre.”

Adam Carew, leader of Whitehill Town Council and chairman of the policy and resources committee, said: “Whitehill Town Council remains in a strong financial situation thanks to sound management and we are, therefore, able to provide the same overall level of major grant aid this year.

“We have a transparent application process and provide more grant aid for community groups (as a percentage of our income) than any other town council in East Hampshire.

“This is on top of running a busy office, championing local causes and providing all sorts of facilities and events for our community.

“As funding pressure grows, we are always mindful this is taxpayers’ money.

“Community groups, like local government, are having to make efficiencies and become more proactive in marketing and match funding. We have, therefore, introduced targets and conditions to help provide best value for our residents and ensure that promised services to our community are delivered.

“We are in an era of great change both locally and in the way local government and the third (voluntary) sector operate.

“We need to face these challenges together, working ever closer to ensure we have a strong and vibrant community here in Whitehill and Bordon.”

Whitehill mayor Sally Pond said: “I am very pleased with the outcome of the meeting - all the grants were allocated following a robust, consistent process which is vital to the decision making. We wish all the organisations well.”

For the second year, Whitehill Town Council will be recognising people in the town and its surrounds for their contributions, over the past year, to the community at its annual town meeting in May.

Awards will be made in two age categories: contribution to the community, under 18s and over 18s.

Residents and workers in the town are invited to make nominations by completing a form, available: from the Forest Community Centre, by e-mailing [email protected] or online at whitehilltowncouncil.gov.uk.

The closing date for nominations is April 8 and presentations will be made at the annual town meeting at Whitehill village hall on May 9.