Successful applicants have been awarded their Mi Community funding.

The aim of Mi Community is to inspire local people to identify the issues that affect their area and then enable them through financial support to turn the ideas into reality.

All 22 applicants who met the criteria were handed their cheques last Monday at a ceremony.

Colne Engaine War Memorial Committee received £13,500 to install a monument to those in the village who fought during First World War.

Winners include Halstead Templars Rugby Football Club who received £12,000 for the expansion of changing and meeting facilities at Courtaulds Sports Fields.

Halstead’s Ramsey Academy is setting u pa community choir and was given £12,000 to help and Earls Colne Parish Council received the same amount to install a footway in the Millennium Green.

The Trustees of Henny Parish Room got £11,750 to prevent flooding and Toppesfield’s community brewery - called Pumphouse, was given £10,000.

The Castle Hedingham Player Amateur Dramatic Group got £1,900 for storage to hold props, sets for productions and replace main set structure and curtain rails.

Courtauld Memorial Hall, in Colne Engaine received £2,500 to upgrade the toilet facilities.

In total, £160,000 was given to schemes by Braintree Council.

The process for allocating the next round of Mi Community funding will begin in September.

Those groups applying for financial support will need to demonstrate fresh thinking and innovation that will have a tangible benefit to community life.