A £30,000 share-out has made welcome Christmas presents for charities in Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

The money comes from Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales, which has made grants to 10 groups in the two counties as part of a £500,000 round of awards in the West Midlands.

The biggest single award went to Worcestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre, which runs a telephone helpline. It received £10,000 towards salary costs.

"We're ecstatic," said co-ordinator Nia Quinlan.

"More than 70 women have come to us for help this year alone and the number has doubled on last year, possibly because more people know we are here.

"We have three part-time employees and this money will enable us to employ someone to train volunteers and people from other agencies in the work we do, which is about supporting women and empowering them to move on in their lives."

Equipment

A £4,000 grant towards toys, equipment and outings went to Malvern Women's Project, which provides a women's refuge in Malvern and has to raise £6,000 a year to keep going.

"It's fantastic. It will really take the pressure off," said project manager Sharon Roleston.

The project received referrals for 197 women and 312 children between April 2000 and March 2001, admitting 59 women and 65 children to the Malvern refuge and finding shelter for the others elsewhere.

"We aim to help women and children get their lives back on track, helping them with benefits, courts, health, education and re-housing, besides supporting them when they move back into the community," she said.

Equally delighted with a grant of £3,000 to Age Concern Bromyard and District was chief officer David Hendry.

He said the money would pay a project officer to organise computer taster sessions for the over 50s.

Other awards went to Disability Answers in Worcester, which received £1,000 towards volunteer travel expenses; Wyre Forest Toc H based in Bewdley, which received £3,000 to replace an old wheelchair car; Pershore Theatre Arts Association, which received £4,000 to buy and install a lift and Littletons Out of School Club, Evesham, which received £1,000 towards workshops and outings.

A grant of £3,220 went to Ledbury's Salter's Hill Charity to cover refurbishment costs and £946 went to Hereford Christian Community Trust to buy toys and equipment.