A north Norfolk council has awarded more than £14,000 to nine community organisations to focusing on heath and wellbeing.

North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) has given out its first round of grant funding which totalled £14,028.

The Arts and Culture Fund grants were awarded to:

Creative Arts East - £2,000 for an arts programme for rurally isolated older people

Swafield Village Hall - £250 for the monthly cinema night

Little Snoring Parish Council - £2,000 for arts and craft sessions

Music for Families - £2,000 for the project in Briston and Holt

Musical Keys - £2,000 for the Music at the Arts Barn project for adults with learning difficulties

North Norfolk Exhibition Project - £1,000 for artist-led workshops at Cley 18, an annual contemporary art exhibition

Playing for Cake - £2,000 for the North Norfolk Skylarks Singing Group sessions for local residents and those with Parkinson's

Sheringham & Cromer Choral Society - £778 for the community Come & Sing workshop

Sing Your Heart Out (North) - £2,000 for wellbeing workshops in Sheringham.

Cllr Becky Palmer, NNDC culture portfolio holder, said: 'This is a wonderful opportunity for local groups and organisations to further enhance the great work they do with local communities through the arts and culture by applying to this fund.'

And Cllr John Rest, leader of the independent group at NNDC, added: 'I encourage your group to contact our communities team, to discuss your application.'

Any voluntary or community organisation with a project to improve the health and wellbeing of a community or specific group of residents through participation and engagement in arts and culture in north Norfolk is encouraged to apply to the fund for grants which are each worth up to £2,000.

The grants are not restricted to dedicated arts and culture organisations, and other groups wanting to arrange activities such as music or dance sessions, or pottery classes, can also apply.

Applications can be submitted at any time, with decisions being made in March, July and November and to be considered in November, applications need to be submitted by Friday, October 26.

To apply for a grant, visit www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/artsandculture or call NNDC on 01263 516173 or 01263 516248.