The first groups to benefit from a £1million pot of money set aside for the eastern end of the Island have been announced.

It has been nearly three years since Eastchurch, Warden Bay and Leysdown residents first found out their areas were to receive the Big Lottery cash to improve people’s lives.

Big Local Eastern Sheppey is overseeing the spending and one of its first initiatives was to set up a community chest of £10,000 in October, with organisations able to bid for up to £500 each.

The successful applicants have now been named and they include a chair-based yoga group which meets at Eastchurch village hall.

It received £383 to hire a tutor for the exercise classes, which are suitable for the elderly and people with mobility problems.

Eastchurch Cricket Club will be able to train all year after it was given £500 towards some nets.

Eastern Amateur Boxing Club, which meets at Warden Bay village hall, received £488 for equipment, including hand wraps, mitts and sparring gloves.

Warden Bay Events Group received £300 for a children’s crafts party which was held on Saturday, December 13, and was attended by more than 100 kids.

Warden Bay Parish Council, Jewsons, Hartley Halt Garden Centre, Leysdown, the Flying Dutchman, Queenborough, Emma Kelly and Susan Hardy also supported the activities.

Organisations that hire out Leysdown village hall will now have access to a portable PA system after a successful bid for £500.

The 5th Sheppey Scouts Group in Eastchurch received £200 to produce advertisement leaflets to encourage new members to join.

Sarah Williams, of Swale CVS who also sits on the The Big Local Eastern Sheppey committee, said: “It has been received really well. We had 12 applications for the first round and most of them are small but small amounts of money can also help make a big difference in the community.

“There were some groups that were not successful and what we’ve said to them is they can come back in the new year and we can look at their applications again.”

The second round of funding from the community chest has now opened and the closing date for applications is the end of February.

Email sarah.williams@swalecvs.co.uk or phone 01795 473828 for an application form or more information. Alternatively, go to the Big Local Eastern Sheppey Facebook page.