More than £1 million in grants has been awarded to community projects across the Vale from a council fund. 

Launched in 2017, the Strong Communities Grant Fund from the Vale council helps community groups, the voluntary sector and town and community councils with projects that benefit their local area. 

An update on June 13 to the council's cabinet revealed that grants totalling £1.15 million have been awarded to 120 projects since the fund opened.  

The annual fund is also set to run until 2025 and will reopen for new applications in July. 

In total, projects totalling £3.6 million have been completed so far with contributions from both Natural Resources Wales and the Waterloo Foundation to the scheme. 

A maximum grant of £25,000 is available and there is no minimum amount. 

Some of the projects supported include the upgrading of sports and community facilities, the purchase of equipment or covering the costs of training for volunteers. 

In 2020, £50,000 was allocated to the Vale Heroes Fund, which went towards 23 initiatives aimed at helping those worst hit by the pandemic. 

It was able to rapidly deploy funding for COVID-19 support groups, personal protective equipment (PPE) for care homes and Wi-Fi-enabled tablets. 

There is also a focus on supporting initiatives that align with the council's Project Zero commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030. 

Cllr Bronwen Brooks, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for Sustainable Places, said: "The council is proud to have supported so many worthwhile ventures since the Strong Communities Grant Fund began five years ago, with many more in the process of being completed. 

"The concept of helping to deliver community projects took on new meaning during the pandemic when local areas came together to support each other through a difficult and often lonely time. 

"And, while many community facilities were forced to close, this also offered the opportunity to develop ambitious plans for growth, and we are seeing many of those now coming to fruition. 

"Looking forward, there will be increased emphasis on green initiatives, those that compliment Project Zero, the council's plan to significantly reduce our carbon output."