A MUCH-USED sports group wants other clubs to know about the grants schemes that totally transformed their facilities.

Notley Carpet Bowls Club, based at the Community Centre in Great Notley, were in need of funds to replace two of their carpets.

This would have been a huge expense to the club as they try to charge their members as little as possible.

Thanks to councillors Graham Butland, Tom Cunningham and Frankie Ricci and the involvement of Great Notley Parish Council, the club managed to secure funding of around £1,350 and now have some perfect new equipment.

Terry Weeks, chairman of the club said: “Most of our members are elderly and some are single having lost husbands or wives. We think we provide a service to the community.

“We would have struggled to get the funds without the grants. It would have been a huge expense to us.”

Mr Weeks believes a lot more community groups could be benefitting from similar grants, however are probably not aware they exist.

He said: “We didn’t know anything about it until I happened to talk to a parish councillor.

“Other community groups should get involved with things like this - it really helps.”

As part of Braintree Council’s Community Grants Scheme ward councillors have a maximum of £1,500 to allocate to local groups.

Graham Butland, leader of Braintree Council, said: “What’s good about community grant schemes like these is a little bit of money can make a huge difference.”

Visit: https://www.braintree.gov.uk/councillorscommunitygrants