Seventeen community organisations in Herefordshire are celebrating after being awarded almost £950,000 in National Lottery funding on Tuesday, June 5th.

Key towns to receive funding include Ross-on-Wye - with funding awarded to Hope Mansell Village Hall, Garway Village Hall and Whitchurch CE Primary School.

Whitchurch CE Primary School are receiving £10,000 to create a new classroom, nursery space and training room for parents, children and teachers. This will improve the facilities available to families in this rural area.

Headteacher, Mrs Claire McKeown, told the Ross Gazette that they are delighted with the news. She said: “Whitchurch CE Primary would like to say a huge thank you to the Lottery Fund for their generous donation. Their grant was a huge surprise after an application was sent several weeks ago and we heard nothing since.”

“The funding will make a valuable difference to our school and community.”

She added: “The project itself should be ready in the Autumn term and we look forward to sharing plans as time moves on.”