TWO community projects in Hereford have been awarded funding to continue their work.

The Prime Foundation has chosen to support Saxon Hall Community Centre and Newton Farm Community Association to help them deliver more projects to communities in Hereford.

Each group will take a share of the £2,700 pot which was allocated to the Hereford.

The money will help Saxon Hall Community Centre develop a 'Home Garden', which will be an educational space within the community gardens to encourage outdoor play and inspire people to engage with nature.

The community centre is already home to the Stay and Play group, the Phoenix Bereavement service and the Autistic Society.

All will benefit from the garden, which will include a mud kitchen, sensory table and planting areas.

Victoria Craig, Saxon Hall Centre Manager, said: "As a society, we are moving further and further away from outdoor play but it’s actually really important for the healthy growth and development of a child, as it promotes cognitive, physical, social and emotional wellbeing experiences. The Home Garden project will inspire the children who visit Saxon Hall Community Centre to explore the natural environment around them and learn while having lots of fun.

“I have a lot of fond memories as a child having my very own mud pie factory at the top of our garden and I hope the children who experience the Home Garden at Saxon Hall will have as much enjoyment and fun. We are very thankful to the Prime Foundation for investing in our idea so we can provide our local community with this safe and very special space.”

Newton Farm Community Association will be using their share of the Prime Foundation Grant to fund group support activities to look after the health of people in the area. The group will host sessions on healthy eating with recipe swapping and cooking classes.

Karen Pritchard from NFCA said: “We are thrilled to be working with Prime Foundation on this project. The funding will help us to provide cook and share workshops where people can cook simple, affordable and easy to prepare meals together.

"The project is about meeting new people, working together and learning some new skills which can be used at home in their own kitchens.”

Leighton Chumbley from the Prime Foundation said: “We received applications from many worthy charities and good causes in Hereford, but were particularly impressed by Saxon Hall Community Centre and Newton Farm Community Association.

"While the projects they will be delivering with the funding couldn’t be more different, they will both help to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Hereford, young and old. We look forward to watching their projects progress and seeing the positive impact these projects have on the community.”

The Prime Foundation was created in 2007 by healthcare property developer Prime plc to invest in the communities where it has built new facilities. Every time Prime completes a project, it makes a donation to the Prime Foundation, which then distributes the funding to groups that improve lives in the local community.