Lottery grants totalling nearly £30,000 have been given to groups in the Malvern area.

Malvern Rugby Club, Malvern Theatre Players, the Malvern-based Beacon Camera Club and Worcestershire Golf Club are all winners under the Awards for All scheme, along with Welland Pre-School and Broadheath Memorial Hall.

Gary Tolley, chairman of youth rugby at Malvern Rugby Club, said the £4,200 it received would help set up tag rugby coaching sessions in Malvern, Upton-upon-Severn and Martley.

These will be open to children aged seven to 18 but aimed primarily at nine to 13 year olds. Adult volunteers will also be trained as coaches.

"The grants will contribute towards equipment, coach education, sports hall hire, publicity expenses and transport costs," said Mr Tolley.

Worcestershire Golf Club is also looking to nurture its younger members, having successfully applied for £2,275 to pay for professional coaches, training and subsidised membership fees, as well as holding tri-golf and higher level golf coaching at schools and during holidays.

A Malvern Theatre Players' project called Action, using drama to raise awareness of drugs among young people with Down's Syndrome, has also benefited to the tune of £4,682. This will be spent on IT equipment and theatre sessions.

Improved facilities and more members are expected by Malvern-based Beacon Camera Club, which will buy photographic and projection equipment with its £4,960 grant.

Disabled access to Lower Broad- heath Memorial Hall will be improv- ed during construction and refurbishment work funded by a £5,000 award.

A grant of £5,000 will enable Welland Pre-School to update its play facilities with new educational play equipment to stimulate "creative and imaginative learning".