THREE North Yorkshire charity groups are celebrating after receiving lottery grants totalling £77,920.

The money will help pay for pre-school play group activities in Thirsk, community cinema screenings in Selby and an IT club in Whitby.

Money has been raised through the Health Lottery by HealthLevel CIC, a Community Interest Company committed to prioritising and raising money to tackle health inequalities in York and North Yorkshire.

Grants were awarded by the independent charity People’s Health Trust through Active Communities, a funding programme which invests in local people and groups aiming to improve their communities.

East Thirsk Community Association has been given £45,526 deliver 240 sessions of pre-school play group activities and support to parents in the Hambleton Estate area of Thirsk.

Selby Globe Community has received £12,560 to continue and extend the Selby Globe Community Cinema’s existing programme of activities, delivering 92 'cinematic events' for children, older people and the general public in the Flaxley and Abbots Road estates in Selby.

Trinity URC Whitby Community Projects has been given £20,134 to deliver a weekly cafe and IT club for older, isolated residents living in the East Side and West Cliff areas of Whitby.

More than a million pounds has now been raised by HealthLevel CIC to support local good causes in York and North Yorkshire.

Chris Lunn, Director of HealthLevel, said it was great that the money was supporting such important local initiatives.

John Hume, Chief Executive of People’s Health Trust, said: “We are delighted to be investing in these local organisations with great ideas to make their communities even better places to grow, live, work and age.”

Active Communities aims to help community groups and not-for-profit organisations with an income of less than £350,000 a year, which are seeking investment of between £5,000 and £50,000 a year, for projects lasting up to two years. For more information visit www.PeoplesHealthTrust.org.uk