VOLUNTARY organisations in Castlefield are better off to the tune of £500 each.

The Bucks Foundation, set up to help people in more deprived areas, presented cheques to four local organisations, based at Castlefield Community Centre, Rutland Avenue, on June 14.

The recipient organisations are all supported by Wycombe District Council's Castlefield Challenge project and join a list of other voluntary groups who have already received funding from the Bucks Foundation.

Les Sheldon, director of the Bucks Foundation, said: "The aim is to provide money for the community to enable different activities to run in the centre."

One of the groups which received money, Fitness For Fun, is a new women's group who are striving to set up accessible exercise classes locally.

Mr Sheldon said: "From Castlefield, it takes two bus journeys to get to High Wycombe sports centre. This money will help them so that it makes it much more of a community base.

Another local volunteer group to benefit is Jamia Rehmania, which is providing an opportunity for women to attend sewing classes.

Mr Sheldon said: "The classes will help ladies acquire sewing skills to give them confidence and skills in making clothes."

The other organisations are a Tea and Toast club, which is a ladies drop-in centre, and Castlefield Asian Ladies Drop-in.