Two Eastleigh organisations will be benefitting from the largest grants issued by civic bosses in Eastleigh.

Following a decision by the authority, around £270,000 will be awarded to various causes, youth groups and charities supporting disabled people and those that promote physical activity, tackle poverty or boost employment prospects.

Eastleigh Citizens Advice Bureau provides free advice on debt, benefits and employment, and will receive £182,000 for 2017-18. The bureau has outreach services in Hedge End and Bursledon.

One Community, which promotes voluntary activity and independent living support, will receive £82,000.

Over the course of 2015 and 2016, it supported 25 charities in achieving grant funding in their own right.

Councillor Paul Bicknell, pictured, cabinet member with responsibility for social policy, said: “The council is committed to enabling healthier lifestyles and tackling deprivation across the Borough of Eastleigh.

“The voluntary organisations in receipt of our awards do a huge amount of often unsung work to improve the lives of people and help us meet our objectives in supporting Eastleigh’s communities.

“It is great that, in these times of austerity and cuts, the council is able to maintain this level of grants to significantly help our voluntary sector and local residents.”

Other recipients include the Asian welfare and cultural association and the national autistic society.