Community groups in London’s deprived East End are being given wads of cash from the Town Hall tonight to help run much-needed services in their neighbourhoods.

A select 22 organisations have been invited to Bethnal Green’s York Hall to receive cash awards from Tower Hamlets Council.

“Grassroots groups do valuable work in the East End,” said Cllr Oliur Rahman, cabinet member for Children’s Services. “They often have very limited funds. This is a small token to enable them to continue their fantastic work.”

The organisations are getting grants to “enhance the services community groups provide.”

It follows grants last year which included paying for a football tournament in April with 60 teams and more than 900 youngsters taking part, which attracted further sponsorship from the business world. The yearly tournament is now part of the council’s programme promoting sport.