GRANTS totalling about £38,000 have been awarded to various organisations in and around Redditch.

The lottery's Awards for All scheme has injected money into arts groups, sports clubs and history societies.

Redditch Black History Group, set up to represent the Afro-Caribbean community in the town, has been given £5,000 towards cultural events.

The group holds a black history awareness event one month each year and the money will also go towards a festival called Kwanzaa, where people come together as a community to celebrate.

Reddishare Craft Group for elderly and disabled people has been awarded almost £1,400, which will allow the organisation to operate for another year.

Feckenham Forest History Society has been given £4,777 to stage a week-long exhibition to raise awareness and inspire residents to take an interest in local heritage.

And Alvechurch Historical Society has been given £650 towards a project enabling the preservation of an 18th century embroidery sample held by the group.