TROWBRIDGE charity Bridge House Community Trust is looking to distribute around £240,000 from its remaining funds to local charitable groups as it prepares to close due to lack of demand.

The trust is located in Stallard Street, Trowbridge, and provides assistance to the voluntary sector by advising small charities and organisations across west Wiltshire.

It was formed in 1985 when the building was bought by the West Wilts Council of Voluntary Service, which provided accommodation for ten local voluntary organisations and offered training and advice to charities and community groups.

But the Wiltshire Council contract for CVS work in west Wiltshire was withdrawn in 2010 and a Wiltshire-wide service was introduced, leaving the trustees to keep the service going without outside funding.

“This strategy involved tremendous extra effort from the one part-time member of staff and a willing volunteer, but proved successful in covering the general costs of the service,” said chairman of the trustees Martha Flower.

However, faced with potentially unmanageable repair and maintenance bills and the reduction of funding to small local voluntary groups, the trustees have now decided to close and allow the building to be taken over for another use.

The trustees put Bridge House on the market in 2014 and the building is now to get new lease of life an arts centre with creative workspaces and education programming.

A statement from the trustees said: “The trustees wish the new owners every success in their venture and hope it will be well used by local people and those further afield.

“We thank all the groups who have been so supportive and enthusiastic about the Bridge House services in the past.

“We are now in the process of winding up the charity and making arrangements for the remaining funds, some £240,000, to be distributed to charitable groups in the Trowbridge and West Wilts area who have appropriate community projects which will benefit from such grants.”

Mrs Flower added: “I’m proud of the success that we have had over the years, but we are now looking to support small charities and groups with grants from our funds and we are asking people to get in touch to find out more.”

Groups wishing to apply for a grant should contact the Bridge House Community Trust by email at enquiries@bridgehouse-trowbridge.org.uk. Applications must be received before July 6.