Community and volunteer groups in Hackney have collected more than half a million pounds in grants despite the coalition government’s cuts to funding.

Thirty-four organisations received a share of the cash from Hackney Council’s Team Hackney, distributed by HCVS (Hackney Council for Voluntary Services).

Among them were City & Hackney Carers Centre based in Tyssen Street, Dalston, youth project Off Centre based in Hackney Grove, Hackney Central, and Day-Mer Turkish and Kurdish Community Centre in Howard Road, Stoke Newington.

Jake Ferguson, HCVS Chief Executive said: “Despite the Team Hackney Community Grants programme being reduced by 33 per cent, a range of excellent projects have been funded.

“We received 107 applications, totalling over �2million requested. The grants panel was able to make awards to 34 organisations, and the total amount awarded was �542,765.78.”