COMMUNITY groups across York and North and East Yorkshire are celebrating after being given a £126,000 lottery windfall.

The National Lottery Awards For All grants programme has benefited a number of groups and projects - with handouts ranging from £1,000 to £5,000.

In York, the Osbaldwick and Murton Village Trust, which provides a 19th century hall for use by a youth club, the parish council, and keep-fit clubs, was given £5,000 to replace its dilapidated kitchen units and workshops, decorate the hall and reseal the floor.

The York One World Linking Association, which supports links between York and communities abroad, was awarded £4,970.

It will be used to organise and run 26 participatory workshops in schools, youth clubs and community centres in Ghana.

Yorkshire Disabled Cricketers' Association was given £4,970.

The group, which teaches cricket to people with learning disabilities, will use the award to provide facilities for a match against the cast of the popular TV soap Emmerdale at Headingley, Leeds. Other York beneficiaries include: York City Rowing Club (£4,958); Nun Monkton Golden Jubilee Committee (£2,974); Real People Theatre Company (£2,900); Poppleton Junior Football Club (£2,000).

In Ryedale, the district's Detached Youth Work Project was awarded £5,000 to create ramps for a skate park. Next Steps, which provides a drop-in facility for people suffering ill-health, was given £4,762 to purchase materials to enable it to become independent.

Other Ryedale beneficiaries include: Ryedale Flames Gymnastic Club (£4,490), Ampleforth village hall (£4,300), Ebberston Sports Field Association (£2,500).

In East Riding, Pocklington's Friends of Oak House, which provides improved facilities for an arts centre, were given £5,000.

Updated: 11:15 Friday, April 12, 2002