ORGANISATIONS in Basingstoke have been given cash boosts thanks to a former mayor's fund.

Cheques were presented to the Basingstoke Hindu Society and St Marks’ and Hatch Warren primary schools by Basingstoke and Deane borough councillor Dan Putty.

The funding came from Cllr Putty's Basingstoke and Deane Community Fund, which is managed by The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation. The fund was set up when Cllr Putty served as mayor in 2013-14 and has continued ever since.

The Basingstoke Hindu Society received £500, which will be used to fund a community sports project.

Hindu Society volunteer Kishor Patel said: “We are so delighted to have this donation. It will make a big difference to the youths and young people who do sports.

“We will contribute from our own reserves as well, to make it a very successful project.”

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St Marks’ and Hatch Warren primary schools also received £200, which will go towards planting trees in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The trees will also be used to teach students about the green spaces around them.

Cllr Putty said: “For me, the most joy I can get is when I see people are really using a little bit of money to do the really good things that need to be done.

“That makes me feel really good."

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