GROUPS across north Essex are set for an early Christmas present.

Twelve organisations are getting cash boosts, thanks to the Grassroots charity, which collects money from fundraisers and businesses and distributes it to worthy causes.

The latest donations, totalling £5,510, mean Grassroots has distributed nearly £500,000 to groups over 21 years.

The Dynamite Drama Company, in West Mersea, a drama group for children run by volunteers, will receive £500 to replace an old analogue microphone.

The Thorpe Players, from Thorpe- le-Soken, get £300 towards production costs of the village panto.

The Evergreens luncheon and social club for older people in Greenstead and Highwoods, Colchester, receives £500 for hall hire charges.

Mistley Kids’ Club, providingcare, recreation and education out of school hours and during school holidays, have been awarded a grant of £489 for sensory equipment, foam mats, bean bags and portable day beds.

Colchester Prosthetic User Group offers support to members before and after an amputation.

The group receive £300 towards the cost of meetings and postage.

Dedham Youth Club has been awarded £350 towards staging a musical for the village next year.

Another organisation to benefit was the 3rd Clacton Jaywick Scout Group. The group, for youngsters aged five to 18, was awarded £1,000. The money will go towards the cost of a replacement roof .

Jaywick Community Resource Centre receives £300 towards a new sound system. The centre provides a community meeting place for the coastal town.

Greenpath Ventures Essex, providing bushcraft and related activities to socially-isolated and disadvantaged groups, has been given £421 towards equipment for processing sheep's fleece into wool.

The Colchester Furniture Project gets £500 towards running costs. The scheme helps disadvantaged and vulnerable people with donations of furniture and household equipment.

Crossroads Care Tendring provides respite breaks for carers and a young carers’ support group.

Grassroots has given the group £350 towards rent costs at a day centre in Clacton.

Colchester Community Voluntary Services receives £500 to buy gardening and decorating tools and pay for larger pieces of equipment to be serviced.

The CCVS runs a scheme providing volunteers who do gardening or decorating for elderly or disabled people.