Community grants were awarded by Midsomer Norton Town Council at a meeting of the finance and operations committee on Monday, January 20.

Midsomer Norton Town Council has specific powers to award financial grants to encourage, support and promote voluntary and community groups within the town.

The council makes an annual budget provision for grants and the total allocation of funds for grant awards can be found in the council budget and is reviewed annually.

The following grants were awarded:

Great Western Air Ambulance – A grant of £1,000 was awarded to support the essential emergency medical services provided by the Great Western Air Ambulance due to their crucial role in delivering rapid response and critical care to those in need across the region.

Last year Great Western Air Ambulance attended 108 critically ill or injured patients in the B&NES area, with seven of these being in the Midsomer Norton area.

Midsomer Norton and Radstock Silver Band – A grant of £1,000 was awarded to the Midsomer Norton Silver Band who face a critical storage issue due to changes in the use of its former rehearsal venue. To address this, the band proposes digitising its extensive music library with a total estimated cost of £3,845.81.

Councillor Martyn Plant, mayor and chair of the finance and operations committee, stated: "We are delighted to support these two outstanding organisations. The Great Western Air Ambulance provides life-saving services, and the Midsomer Norton and Radstock Silver Band enriches our community with their musical talents.

“These grants will go some way towards helping them continue their invaluable work."

Midsomer Norton Town Council will consider applications for grant funding at two meetings of the finance and operations committee during the municipal year, and the deadline for applications will be five weeks in advance of those meetings.