The grants were part of the town council's £18,000 budget this year put aside for grant applications. They have awarded the money to 13 groups which together appeal to all sectors of the population.

Among them was the town's Citizens Advice Bureau, which was awarded £6,000 to enable it to open a further half-day each week. The money will go towards an improvement project costing £63,100.

The town's elderly population has benefited with Evergreen, a group which takes people on day trips, being awarded £500 towards entertainment. Younger people's services have also been successful in applications. The youth theatre was awarded £2,000 to fund outreach work in primary schools and running summer holiday schemes in acting, singing and dancing and education centres which provide schools with extra resources got £1,000.

The Barns Centre has received £3,500 to help staff refurbish their flooring and a more unusual group to be awarded was the Duellists fencing club to fund equipment. Thame Town Council grants panel allocated £250 to them.

In an aim to increase the profile of Thame's twin-town in France, Montesson, councillors have given the Thame and District Twinning Association £750.