Students have allocated funding to projects across the borough. Members of the Swale Youth Forum met last Wednesday to decide which groups would get a share of £10,000.

Twenty three youngsters attended to hear bids from youth-based organisations. A vote was held to decide how the cash would be distributed.

Cllr Mike Whiting, cabinet member for localism, said: “With £39,000 in bids and only £10,000 in the pot it was inevitable that the forum could not help all the groups.”

Highsted Grammar School was among the winning bidders, having been allocated £500 to buy defibrillator equipment.

Borden Community Theatre won £3,000 for a new stage and FX items, while Vision Shop, run by Restoration Youth on Sheppey to enable young people to create projects and businesses, was granted £2,500.

A total of £900 was awarded to Kent Young Carers with New House Youth Centre in Sittingbourne being given £3,000, £1,000 of which the group generously offered to fellow bidders from the Sittingbourne Skatepark fundraising team.

Cllr Whiting said: “As this was the first time this had been done in this way it will be important to review the process and see if we can make it even better next year.”