EAST Devon’s village halls and community buildings have successfully applied for £15,333 of funding from East Devon District Council – but there's still time for more bids to be entered.

The Community Buildings Fund is a grants scheme that helps community buildings projects, with the district council offering grants of up to £5,000 for each cause.

The funding has been put in place to help local village community buildings all around East Devon. Buildings eligible for funding can apply on the basis that they need refurbishments. This could include items such as toilet facilities, kitchen facilities, roof repairs, heating and door fixtures and changes of a similar kind.

Community shop

The projects that will be receiving funding are:

• Beer Mariners' Hall – £5,000 towards repairing the leaky roof

• Axmouth Village Hall – £1,500 to help refurbish the kitchen so they can hold better events and get more bookings

• Dalwood Village Hall – £2,000 towards replacing the main hall floor

• Marsh Green Village Hall – £3,500 to help refurbish the 30-year-old kitchen

• Ottery St Mary Community Shop – £2,000 towards setting up a community shop in Otterton

• Southleigh Parish Hall – £1,333 to help refurbish the 40-year-old toilets.

There is still funding left this year and the next closing date for applications is 28 November 2014. To find out more about the grants scheme or to apply go to:

www.eastdevon.gov.uk/communitybuildingsfund East Devon District Councillor Jim Knight, Chairman of the Community Buildings Fund, said: “The great projects already put forward by village halls within the district shows a sense of community and a willingness to keep a communal area running for local residents. I'm really pleased that we can keep this valuable fund going despite current financial circumstances”.