AN ARCHERY group will offer primary schoolchildren the chance to try the sport after landing a council grant.

Thirsk Bowmen, which was established 20 years ago and has more than 60 members at its Baldersby Park base, near Topcliffe, has been awarded £892 by Hambleton District Council.

The club, which holds monthly competitions during the summer and an improver’s course in winter, will use the funds to loan specially designed archery kits to primary schools to develop new skills and promote archery as a sport for all abilities.

The award to the club, which welcomes archers with a disability, was made as part of the council’s Investing in Communities Supporting Area Action scheme.

Now in its second year, £40,603 has been allocated from the fund to a range of projects.

Councillor Bridget Fortune said: “These grants allow us to help projects that seek to provide the best local solutions to local problems and which demonstrate community support.”

The 35 projects helped so far include Hackforth Village Hall, the 1st Moxby Scout Group, Swainby Playing Field Association and the Hutton Rudby Playgroup.