Groups taking part - 4

Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) has been helping farming people in financial difficulty for more than 150 years.

RABI is a charity which helps farmers and farmworkers. Support includes emergency grants as well as regular payments to those with long-term needs. The charity funds things such as essential household items, disability equipment as well as meeting the costs of relief farm staff and home help. Last year, RABI gave out almost £94,000 in Shropshire.

Most of the charity's funding comes from public donations, events and support from businesses and community groups.

RABI general manager Kate Jones says: "We're delighted to be chosen as one of Shropshire Star's 'Cash For Your Community' charities. There is a perception that all farmers are wealthy but this is not the case."

• Ashfield, Aston Rogers, Westbury, Shrewsbury, SY5 9HQ

1st Shrewsbury Scout Group

The group was established in 1908 and is one of the oldest in Shropshire, if not the country, and a cub pack was added in 1979.

Executive chairman Jo Jones says the scout hut has come under scrutiny in recent months as it shows signs of severe deterioration. "Given a large fall of snow, it would more than likely fall down," she says. "The bottom line is we need a new hut."

Jo says the group has already planned a summer fair, litter-picking, street collections, bag packs and sponsored cycle rides. The group has also applied for grants.

Jo says the group faces a formidable task to raise such a large sum of money.

"We have a huge mountain to climb and every bit extra we can raise will help us reach our goal quicker and better," she says.

• 38 Woodhall Close, Castlefields, Shrewsbury, SY1 2TS

The Marches Springwatch Garden and Conservation Club

A group of teachers and support staff at The Marches School in Oswestry have set up a project to teach youngsters about conservation, working with the community and organisations such as the Wildlife Trust and the RSPB.

Co-ordinator Joanne White says: "Our aim is to build relationships with the local community and primary schools through a well-organised and resourced club ran in and out of school time. The project would work with both the local allotment society as well as Oswestry in Bloom and the RSPB with the principal aim of giving pupils a wider experience of rural activities with support from the community."

Joanne says the club has a lot of support and offers of practical help, but requires funding to put the project into action. She added: "The money would go towards creating raised beds, a shed, plants, walkways and clearing the site as well as other necessaries to get the club up and running as quickly as possible.

"It will mean the students can start using the site and creating habitats for wildlife, growing vegetables and learning about conservation."

• The Marches School, Morda Road, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 2AR

Seniors Gym Club

The club was formed to improve fitness among the over-55s by offering access to gym sessions and the promotion of other physical and social activities.

The club hires a gym and instructor from the council in different venues across the borough.

Fundraiser Sue Howe says: "We presently offer three gym circuits sessions to improve physical fitness. The sessions not only act as a physical activity to get members fitter but also as a social event for those who are isolated."

Sue added: "The grant would enable us to subsidise the sessions and offer more activities for members."

• 13 Leadon Close, Little Dawley, Telford, TF4 3HT

Home-Start Telford and Wrekin

This charity provides support for families in difficult times, and fundraising manager Julia Allinson says people contact Home-Start for a number of different reasons.

"They may feel isolated, be suffering from postnatal illness, be coping with illness or the death of a loved one," she says. "Families may be struggling with multiple births, a child with a disability or domestic violence."

Home Start trains and recruits volunteersto visit these families at home and provide them with support and friendship.

The charity also provides "Something More" courses for women, which aim to give them confidence to become better mothers.

The money would be used to pay for a meeting room, as well as refreshments and course materials.

• The Glebe Centre, Wellington, Telford, TF1 1JP

Parents Opening Doors (Pods)

Pods aims to improve the lives of all families who have a child with disabilities or other additional needs.

Administrator John Trobshaw says the charity seeks to help parents make their voices heard.

He says Pods supports 423 families at the moment by running family groups, information through social media, and face-to-face emotional support.

He added; "Money through Cash For Your Community will enable us to continue our support, whilst reaching further into our community."

• 17, Cranmore, Stirchley, Telford, TF3 1XR

Radnor Valley Little Dragons

Little Dragons provides child care for children aged two to 14.

Chairman Shirley Hughes says the registered charity serves an isolated, rural, low income area of Mid Wales, and runs a parent-and-toddler group and an all-day child-care centre, as well as an after-school and holiday club.

"We provide a well-planned and organised safe-play environment that offers children rich and stimulating experiences, alongside opportunities to explore, experiment, plan and make decisions for themselves," she says.

Shirley says the group hopes to enhance the garden areas, with outdoor play equipment, as well as purchasing garden tools for the children to use.

• The Old School, School Lane, New Radnor, Preteigne, Powys, LD8 2SS

Cruse Bereavement Care Shropshire

The charity promotes the well-being of bereaved people and helps to enable anyone suffering bereavement to understand their grief and cope with their loss.

Chairman June Middleton says: "Our key motivation and inspiration is always the many bereaved people that we help each year. To provide this help and support we rely on our wonderful volunteers, supporters and donations as we offer a free service. Sadly the demand continues to grow."

June says the money will be used to provide rigorous training for all volunteers, to ensure professional standards in dealing with both children and adults at a devastating time. It will also help with venue costs and travel.

• 1, Cae-Onan, Millars Field, Morda, Oswestry, SY10 9PX

Telford & Horsehay Steam Trust

This group of volunteers runs heritage train services between Horsehay & Dawley and Lawley Common. Its long-term aim is to restore heritage train services into the World Heritage site of Ironbridge Gorge.

Commercial director Mark Paynter says: "We are trying to build a carriage shed that will enable us to place a lot of our unique items of rolling stock under protective cover."

He said the shed would cost around £17,000, and they already had half of that sum.

"A slice of the dream fund would help towards the costs of continuing the ground works and preparatory works needed to begin construction," he says.

"The carriage shed will be built in stages so that it doesn't impact on our finances in one fell swoop."

• 38 Kenwray Drive, Donnington, Telford, TF2 7RZ

The Harry Johnson Trust

The Harry Johnson Trust offers support to children in Shropshire who receive care from the Children's Oncology Team based at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.

The charity was set up in memory of seven-year-old Harry, who died in July 2013 after a nine-month battle with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Harry's parents Sally and Stephen say they wish to use their own experience to offer their support through the projects. "The trust aims to bring a little bit of light to children during a very dark time in their lives."

It runs a number of projects, and also offers support to parents, particularly when their child is diagnosed as being terminally-ill.

Sally says: "We provide essential items to children and parents in hospital, such as water, shampoo, snacks and slippers.

"We give children a fleece pillowcase and blanket, which feel softer on a bare head after chemotherapy than traditional pillowcases."

And the charity also provides comfort and support if the child loses his or her battle. She said: "We make a memory bear or blanket from a child's clothing if they pass away."

The trust also takes children on holiday in Shropshire if they are having a particularly difficult time or have been given a terminal diagnosis.

"We also grant small wishes for individual children, up to the value of £200," says Sally.

• Lower Farm, Vennington, Shrewsbury, SY5 9RG