The Isles of Scilly Steamship Company will be giving away more than £9,000 to local good causes as part of its commitment to giving something back to the communities it serves.

Nine projects that will benefit local communities have been chosen to receive the money in the second round of awards from the company’s £30,000 Community Fund.

Bids to the Community Fund are open to voluntary groups or charities, schools and education establishments, community clubs or societies, and individuals undertaking not-for-profit projects for the benefit of the wider community.

In the first round of awards, a total of £6,750 was awarded to six different projects.

More than 30 community projects applied for the second round of funding, and the successful applicants, chosen by an independent panel, include:

  • Five Islands Football Club
  • Bryher Community Association
  • National Coastwatch Institute in Cape Cornwall
  • Ronnie Richards Memorial in Penzance
  • Lesley Thomas Dance School on St Mary’s
  • Scillonian Sailing Club
  • Merlin Centre

Terry Ward, chairman of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group’s Community Fund, said: “Awareness and interest in the Steamship Group’s Community Fund had grown considerably since round one, and when our panel sat down to analyse and assess the applications for round two there were 32 schemes and initiatives to consider. While that made our job even more difficult than it already was I am delighted that clubs, organisations and whole communities are aware that the Steamship Group is keen to give something back to the communities it serves.

“Once again the diversity of applications is born out in the nine initiatives that we have chosen to support – including football, judo, sailing, a National Coast Watch scheme and the Merlin MS Centre. We would love to be in a position to support each and every application that is put before us but that is simply not possible. With that in mind I would like to thank the independent panel of advisors who give up their time to help me with these difficult choices, their fair minded input is hugely appreciated.”

Full details, eligibility criteria and application forms are available from the Steamship Group’s website and the recipients will be announced later this year. All projects are judged by members of an independent community fund panel.