A CHURCH, a sports centre and a village pavilion are among the beneficiaries of a £570,000 cash pot.
The recipiants of a £30,000 windfall are St Luke's Church in Reigate, Holland Sports Athletics Club in Hurst Green and Charlwood Pavilion.
The funding, announced last Thursday, is from Surrey County Council's Community Improvements Fund.
Richard Colpus , St Luke's project organiser, said the grant award was "fantastic news". It means the church's £695,000 appeal for a replacement hall extension is now just a tantalising £50,000 short.
The new facilities – including two multi-purpose rooms, a new kitchen and new toilets – will enable the wider community to use the hall more.
Mr Colpus added: "We have already had interest from fitness classes, a drama group and disability charities."
The athletics club's cash will go towards replacing its "decrepit" and unsafe running track. Club coach Nigel Bongers said: "This money will help us hugely. The track surface has lots of bumps, hollows and dips. There are long-standing puddles and the track bends are overgrown.
"When the new facilities are in, we want to widen its use to more local schools and the wider community."
Its £85,000 appeal for funds, which is now about halfway there, will not only upgrade the track but also improve the substandard areas where athletic field events are held.
Meanwhile Charlwood Parish Council has raised the bulk of the £460,000 needed for a replacement pavilion in the village.
Chairman Martin Needham thanked the county council for the cash, adding: "We're really pleased to have raised so much money.
"The hope is we can announce the start of the building phase next year with a completion date in the summer.
