COMMUNITY groups have been given a boost with a massive £220,000 of grant cash.

More than 20 groups have got the cash from the Oxfordshire Stronger Communities Alliance (Osca).

Among those to benefit is the Barracks Lane Community Garden, East Oxford which has got £5,000. And the new Rose Hill Junior Youth Club has got £5,463 to help it equip a new club and provide activities for younger children from the area. (See page 11) Barton Community Association (BCA) can now afford to buy a new minibus thanks to a £13,900 donation.

Secretary Sue Holden said the group was elated with the donation.

She said: “Everyone uses the minibus we have already got and it has meant so much to people in Barton.

“We use it for youth groups and for the older people to go on outings, and the church uses it, as does the youth services.

“The football clubs also benefit from it. It is just so good to have it. This money means we can sell the van we have got possibly to another community group, or trade it in and get a brand new one.

“We are over the moon.”

Cash was provided by Capacitybuilders, a non-departmental public body that supports the voluntary sector.

The one-off fund was opened in September.

In all, 145 eligible applications were submitted, with the total amount requested almost reaching £2m.