Community projects have struck it rich after finding funding from the lottery.
Various schemes throughout Northumberland and the North East have secured grants in the latest rounds of awards.
One of the winners in the Big Lottery Fund was MIND Active, which received £305,652 to continue and expand its work with older people and those living with dementia in the former boroughs of Castle Morpeth, Wansbeck and Blyth Valley.
The project aims to reduce isolation and improve the social life of dementia sufferers through activities in care homes. It uses familiar and comforting themes related to past events, such as royal births and festive celebrations, to provide mental stimulation.
It will now expand to support carers of those with dementia to try to lower their stress and anxiety.
Big Lottery Fund Deputy Director Tim Davies-Pugh said: “Community organisations have been using grants from the Big Lottery Fund for ten years now to make a real difference to communities and people most in need.”
Abbeyfields First School in Morpeth was one of those to benefit in the Awards For All programme, picking up £4,160 to deliver after-school physical activity clubs for pupils and their families.
Age UK Northumberland received £9,553 to train people to teach NVQ Level 2 exercise to music classes, which will be held for older people in rural communities to help improve their health and well-being.
The Myasthenia Gravis Association for Tyne and Northumberland was awarded £3,495 to host a regional conference for sufferers of Myasthenia Gravis, their families and carers.