A council is giving 13 organisations more than £250,000 to provide important community services for the next year.

Wealden District Council has offered funding for a third consecutive year through its Community Grants programme, dishing out a total of £263,800.

Wealden’s Citizens Advice received the most, with a grant of £100,000. It supported 3,344 clients on a range of issues such as claiming benefits and housing.

Clued-up received £14,000. It helped 1,362 young people through its services which include giving advice, information, emotional support and informal counselling to 11 to 25 year olds in difficult circumstances.

Other organisations in the programme include 3VA, East Sussex Hearing and People Matter Trust.

Councillor Kelvin Williams, lead councillor for public health, wellbeing and asset management, said: “The funding which has been allocated to these community groups is going to be used to improve great services which we currently already have in Wealden and surrounding areas and introduce some new ones.

“These organisations provide a vital and valuable service to so many residents and we want to make sure that they stay available and are offering more help to people in our communities.”