MEMBERS of the Launceston Youth Group performed a short play at a SITA Cornwall Trust celebratory event recently.

The event was organised to celebrate the success of the many projects already funded by the trust throughout the county and to discuss future funding opportunities. Two hundred people came along to thank the trust, to look forward to some funding or just to celebrate some good news in Cornwall.

Over the past two years SITA Cornwall Trust has awarded grants to the total value of £760,000 and in doing so has been able to support 37 projects that provide essential social and environmental benefit to communities throughout the county.

The chair of the trust, Andrew Saunders, opened the event by praising the projects, which are funded, and said: "I am always impressed by the energy and enthusiasm of large numbers of people, within their communities, who work tirelessly to improve people's lives. But without the security of continuous funding, this vast range of wonderful projects could not be supported so I would like to thank SITA Cornwall, which chooses to donate six per cent of the landfill tax, to fund the trust and its work."

Lady Mary Holborow, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, spoke about the vital role of community in the county's life that makes Cornwall so special. She mentioned the generosity of the government in allowing taxes to be shared in this way.

There were a number of presentations from groups who have received funding, and the afternoon ended with Launceston Youth Group performing the short play, Us and Them in thanks for the SITA Cornwall Trust grant, which secured funding for essential lighting and sound equipment for their organisation.

The trust is funded by landfill tax generated at SITA's two landfill sites in the county. To qualify for funding projects must be situated within 10 miles of a registered landfill site in Cornwall.

For further information please contact Wendy Reading, Fund Manager on 01579 346816 or visit http://www.sitacornwalltrust.co.uk">www.sitacornwalltrust.co.uk.