Girlguiding Surrey East is one of ten organisations across the county which have been awarded grants totalling £385,085 by the trustees of the London Marathon Charitable Trust (LMCT).

The LMCT makes grants to recreational projects in areas where The London Marathon Limited organises events as a thank you for the support of those communities. Following August’s Prudential RideLondon, Surrey organisations became eligible to apply for grants.

The LMCT has awarded £100,000 to Girlguiding Surrey East to go towards the construction of a new dormitory building.

The nine other organisations awarded grants included Capel Cricket Club, which was awarded £50,000 towards the construction of a new sports pavilion, Capel Parish Council, which was awarded £23,000 towards an all-weather surface and new equipment for the village play area, and Leatherhead and Dorking Gymnastics Club, which was awarded £31,000 towards additional gymnastics equipment.

Surrey County Council leader David Hodge said: “This summer's festival of pedal power was a shot in the arm for cycling, tourism and the local economy, and these generous donations will make a real difference to community groups.”

The London Marathon Charitable Trust, was created in 1981, the inaugural year of the London Marathon, to meet one of the six objectives set by race founders Chris Brasher and John Disley, “to raise money for the provision of recreational facilities in London.”

The Trust’s objective “to provide or assist in the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation” was subsequently widened to enable grants to be made for projects in any area where The London Marathon Limited stages an event.