Brightlingsea WinterFest is making the town a happier and healthier place with the distribution of more than £3,000 in grants from the festival’s Wellbeing Fund.

Money donated at WinterFest, the town’s annual festival of music, arts and spoken word, is channelled into the Wellbeing Fund to help local people.

The success of this year’s WinterFest, held in February, has enabled the Wellbeing Fund to give a wide range of grants to families, individuals and community groups in the town.

Among this year’s beneficiaries are Brightlingsea Shedders, Mending Matters, Pulse Performers, Roots Nature Forest School, Brightlingsea’s Fresh Air Festival, a new Adult Literacy group, Brightlingsea Guides and Brightlingsea Lido’s Creative Team.

Another grant recipient is the Brightlingsea Toy Library for toddlers, which has been running for 30 years. A grant of £180 has meant it has bought a collection of new toys.

Anna Hatch from the Toy Library said: “The children have really been enjoying playing with the new toys, including a very popular wooden garage. One of the mums who comes to the Toy Library remarked how lovely it was for the fund to do this for the local community and the children.”

The Wellbeing Fund has also distributed Lido tickets for many individuals and families, as well as tickets for family days out at adventure parks and in London.

Music lessons, life jackets for young people learning to sail, a table and chairs for the local Dungeons and Dragons group and a child’s bike seat for a family who love cycling have also been made possible by the fund.

Jane Paul, Brightlingsea WinterFest crew member said: “WinterFest really does brighten up the dark winter months. It also connects our community and we all feel better for it. The Wellbeing Fund ensures that WinterFest makes a difference in the town all year round.”

For more information about WinterFest visit www.brightlingseawinterfest.co.uk.