THREE Romsey charities are celebrating after receiving grants totalling £11,000 to help them continue their invaluable work in and around the town.

Santander UK’s Romsey branch manager Sue Geraghty handed out £5,000 cheques to representatives of Romsey Opportunity Group and Romsey Young Carers, and a £1,000 cheque to Romsey and Waterside Gateway Club.

All the donations came from the Santander Foundation which gives grants to charities across the UK for projects that help disadvantaged people.

Romsey Opportunity Group was awarded money to help support young children with a wide range of special needs and the organisation badly needed cash because of a shortage of funding and was at risk of closing.

Romsey Young Carers received its grant to help with funding the organisation’s clubs and activities and outings for children and young people whose lives are affected by caring for family members, while the Romsey and Waterside Gateway Club received cash to help cover the cost of the organisation’s annual outing for members with learning disabilities.