A SHARE of a �2 million fund for young people is helping community projects in the Reporter s area to become a reality. Schemes in Saffron Walden, Great Chesterford, Newport and Sewards End have received a total of �123,000 from Essex County Council s Com

A SHARE of a �2 million fund for young people is helping community projects in the Reporter's area to become a reality.

Schemes in Saffron Walden, Great Chesterford, Newport and Sewards End have received a total of �123,000 from Essex County Council's Community Initiatives Fund (Youth).

A grant of �45,000 has been awarded to the Great Chesterford Recreational Ground Trust to build a skate park.

Cllr Julie Redfern, who is heading the project, said: "We are well on our way now to raising the �61,000 we need to build the facility.

"It was such a lot of money in the first place, but we want to do the job really well and hopefully we can start building some time this year."

Sewards End Village Hall Trust has been awarded �30,000 towards the building of a new playground next to Sewards End Village Hall.

"We were delighted when we found out our application was successful," said the trust's chairman Alice Olley. "We are quite a large village of 180 dwellings and we have never had a playground.

"I have lived in the village for 22 years and brought up four children so I know how important it is to have these facilities."

Work has started on the project, which will cost a total of about �50,000, and should be completed by June.

Jikes Youth Centre and Newport 1st Scout Group have jointly been awarded �30,000 to help them rebuild Jikes Hall in Newport.

Leader of the scout group Ralph Staniforth said: "The building is an old wooden structure which needs a lot of money to pay for its upkeep. It's money down the drain and what we need is a new purpose-built facility.

"It's very important for the community and is already used by about 100 scouts, 100 members of the youth club as well as a brownie group."

Saffron Walden Rugby Football Club has been awarded �18,000 towards the refurbishment of its toilets and showers.

The �2million youth fund was split between the county and young people were involved in the decision-making process.