A CHARITY hub has thanked the public for helping it award nearly £500,000 to community groups in Bucks in 2013.

The Buckinghamshire Community Foundation is an organisation dedicated to helping voluntary and community projects in the area by channelling funding to them – largely in the form of donations.

A statement from the organisation said: “As local communities in Bucks respond to the challenge of reduced State and Public Sector resources, your generosity has helped the Community Foundation provide nearly £0.5 million of grants and loans to 140 local community projects in 2013.

“ You've helped foodbanks and credit unions to be set up,day centres and children's centres to continue and vocational training schemes and sports clubs to expand their activities.”

In December the foundation awarded £52,000 of grants to community groups. Among the projects that benefitted were : Bucks Play Association for their 'Play Around the Parishes' project, St Andrews Church in Totteridge for their Christmas Day lunch for isolated adults and families, and Chiltern Youth Centre for equipment at the youth club. The foundation is once more appealing for donations to keep up its work in benefitting the community throughout 2014.

For more details, go to www.buckscf.org.uk