COMMUNITY groups across Gwent have received cash windfalls totalling more than £60,000 from Awards for All Wales.

Supported by the Big Lottery Fund and the Heritage Lottery Fund, the scheme has injected grants of up to £5,000 into a variety of projects throughout the country since 1994.

This time around, awards were made to organisations such as a support group for parents receiving treatment for drug or alcohol problems in Newport and Pontypool Pacers Heart Support Group.

In Blaenau Gwent, counselling group Hi! Help Inside was given £5,000 while Llanhilleth Miners Institute, Beaufort Select Homing Society, Saxon Court Residents Association also received cash boosts.

In Newport, the Parish of Newport was awarded the full grant. Eveswell Arts and Community Group, the Underwood Trust and Malpas Court Parents and Teachers Association were also successful.

Cryfau Parent Support Group is a voluntary organisation which helps those receiving drug or alcohol treatment and was set up earlier this year. It was given £4,048 for a laptop and printer. The funds will also be used for day trips.

Nine groups in Torfaen won grants including Victoria Village Senior Citizens Club, the Pontnewydd branch of the Royal British Legion, Hollybush Primary School, Taliesin Residents Association, South Wales Electricity Retired Employees Association, Pontypool Road Camera Club, the Sid Griffiths Court Social Fund and the Cwmbran branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Monmouthshire Youth Project was given £3,500 and the Bridge to Cross Charitable Trust was awarded £5,000.

Awards for All Wales programme manager Sian Richards said: "This is one of the most successful lottery funding programmes in the country to date and we have made a magnificent contribution to good causes in Wales since the National Lottery was launched in 1994."