Children across Test Valley will benefit from an award of half a million pounds, spread over three years, the borough's share of £7.2 million which Hampshire has received from the Children's Fund.

A government initiative, the Children's Fund was set up to improve the lives of children at risk of social exclusion, by increasing facilities, services and new projects.

Two youth projects in North Baddesley will benefit: Rox Youth Project will receive cash to buy equipment and pay for adult help to run a drop-in youth club once a week and for Rock Solid Youth Project funding will mean it can buy a vehicle to convert for a mobile youth club.

A holiday scheme for children with special needs based at The Mountbatten School, Romsey, will receive £15,000.

Another project at The Mountbatten School, for children who are not able to attend main stream schools, will also receive help from the Fund. Testway Sevens will expand with football coming to southern Test Valley. Rugby and cricket are expected to follow to allow more children to take part in sport.

Two other organisation which will benefit are scouting and the NSPCC. The NSPCC will use its funding to provide child protection training for voluntary groups across the borough.

Janet Blann, chief officer of Test Valley Community Services, said she was delighted with the funding. "The effort put into Test Valley bids was very impressive and it is brilliant that all the bids submitted to the board were successful," she said.