Groups in Hambleton are celebrating after being awarded £15,000 from the Awards for All Scheme.

Thirsk School and Sixth Form College, Hambleton and Richmondshire Carers Centre, and Stokesley and Villages Community Regeneration Group each received a share of the cash.

The money is distributed to groups striving to enhance the quality of life of people in their communities. The grants scheme, supported by Arts Council England, Big Lottery Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England, distributes between £300 and £10,000 to community and voluntary groups.

The Big Lottery Fund's head of the Yorkshire and Humber region, Vanessa White, said: "Awards for All is an excellent opportunity for hard-working local community groups in the region to receive essential financial support through Lottery good cause funding.

"The tremendous range of projects that Awards for All supports will bring great opportunities and benefits to thousands of people."

Thirsk School and Sixth Form College received £5,000 to help it start an out-of-hours athletics club to benefit primary and secondary school children and the local community.

It will enable pupils to develop healthy lifestyles as well as their sporting talents and they will be in a better position to enter competitions.

School sports co-ordinator for the Thirsk area, Kerry Robinson, said: "It's fantastic because our very able athletes have nowhere to go at present in this area.

"It's going to be a huge benefit to those athletes, giving them extra time to train. It's going to provide so many more opportunities."

Hambleton and Richmondshire Carers Centre received £5,000 to help it promote itself.

It would like to target the many hidden carers in their area who are often isolated, disadvantaged, living in rural areas and caring for someone at home.

Stokesley and Villages Community Regeneration Group was also awarded £5,000.

The partnership represents and promotes 22 villages to support activities, facilitate improvement, regeneration and general wellbeing of the area.

It plans to improve tourist information by using a wide range of media, including DVD, website and leaflets.