A MORE than £1.5million boost is set to be received by community organisations.

Test Valley Borough Council councillors voted in favour of a three-year grants review at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, 14 February.

The council provides more than £1.5m to borough organisations and projects through a number of funding schemes which aim to improve the quality of life for residents.

A significant proportion of this funding aids the delivery of core services that support some of the more vulnerable members of the community.

The current three-year funding programme will come to an end in March.

The report recommended funding for 14 organisations in total and in all cases a small increase is proposed to help meet the increasing costs of providing their services.

Community and leisure portfolio holder, Councillor Tony Ward said: “The reason we have a three-year programme of funding means that these important services get commitment from us and a degree of financial security which allows them to plan for the future.

“We must also ensure that our funding is targeted to where it is most needed and can be used most effectively.

“One of our corporate priorities is ‘Contribute to and be part of a strong community’ promoting the important role that the voluntary sector plays in the everyday life of the borough.”

The 14 organisations applying for grant funding include Citizens Advice Test Valley, Unity (formerly Test Valley Community Services), Unity Community Transport, Unity Shopmobility, Andover Mind, Relate Solent, Age UK Andover, Andover Crisis and Support Centre, Two Saints Housing Association, Alamein Community Association, Tourism South East, Hampshire and IoW Wildlife Trust, Youth in Romsey and King John’s House.

Age Concern Hampshire’s Food and Friendship Scheme, Romsey Festival and Three Rivers Partnership were not invited to reapply.

The borough council said the organisations have been supported in exploring other revenue schemes.

Andover Neighbourcare and Andover Visually Impaired People were invited to apply but declined due to high levels of reserves.