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Shepperton Studios awards grants to youth and disability groups
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Shepperton Studios awards grants to youth and disability groups

Shepperton Studios Five women hold a giant check from Pinewood to the Ashford Youth and Community Club in front of a brick wall with the youth club's name painted on it.Shepperton Studios

Shepperton Studios has chosen to provide a grant to Ashford Youth Club

The Surrey film studio behind Bridgerton and Netflix’s The Crown has distributed funds to community groups in Spelthorne.

The Shepperton Studios Community Fund has awarded grants to disability access group Staines Shopmobility and Ashford Youth and Community Club.

The bi-annual grants have so far supported 19 charities across the borough of Spelthorne.

The £500,000 fund was launched in 2022 to support local individuals, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations, including charities.

The Ashford Youth Club, which supports more than 130 young people a week, will use the funds for its new arts program.

Youth club user Jessica said: “We’re really looking forward to seeing the different arts we will be able to have at the youth club thanks to this funding.

“It will introduce us to amazing ideas and new experiences.”

Getty Images A film lot with two large stage buildings to the side and another at the end of the road.Getty Images

Shepperton Studios has become the second largest film studio in the world after an expansion in 2022

The Staines Shopmobility volunteer group aims to use the funding to further improve access and facilities for disabled people in Spelthorne.

Shepperton Studios, which became the second largest film studio in the world in 2022, works with the Community Foundation for Surrey to select causes to support.

Since launching the fund, they have so far awarded 19 grants to local organizations.

Part of Pinewood Studios, the 31-Step Movie Lot is the filming location for the fourth series of Netflix’s Bridgerton.

Other hits recently filmed at the studios include 1917, the musical adaptation Matilda and Mary Poppins Returns.