FIVE community projects have received a boost thanks to the National Lottery.

More than £4m has been handed out to projects in the South West with organisations from Portland, West Dorset and Purbeck among those to get a slice of funding.

The Royal Manor Theatre Company has been given £9,610 to renovate their kitchen, making the community room more suitable for a range of activities.

Thorncombe village shop has been given £5,500 to create a designated cafe area. This will further the project aim to bring more people together and reduce rural isolation.

Two defibrillators will be fitted in Winterborne Whitchurch thanks to a grant of £2,500 and in Purbeck, £9,800 has been handed to Purbeck Youth and Community Foundation and £10,000 has been awarded to Greenford High School for their Duke of Edinburgh Scheme.

James Harcourt, England Grant-Making Director at the Big Lottery Fund, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, communities large and small are able to get the funding they need to bring their great ideas to life. Every time someone buys a National Lottery ticket it raises vital funds that help make a difference to hundreds of people’s lives. We’re delighted to be able to support projects like these in Dorset, which is a fantastic example of people coming together to use their ambitions and aspirations to create something wonderful for their local community.”

Dorset isn’t alone in enjoying the good news – the South West region as a whole is receiving £4.3 million, which is being distributed across 251 community projects and organisations.

The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for giving out money raised by National Lottery players for good causes. Last year it awarded over half a billion pounds (£508.5 million) and supported over 11,000 projects across the UK for health, education, environment and charitable purposes.

The total pot being made available to groups across England this quarter is almost £60 million.

To find out more visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk