Nine youth organisations are celebrating after being chosen to receive much-needed cash handed out to mark Thames Valley Police’s birthday.

The force is 40 years old this year and has donated £1,000 each to 40 youth groups across the region including nine in Oxfordshire.

The £40,000, paid out by the Thames Valley Police Authority, was raised from auctioning assets seized from convicted criminals.

The Sweatbox Union Youth Forum in Wantage attracts up to 400 teenagers every week and many of them are on a council which advises police and councils on youth issues.

It will share the £1,000 between a training weekend for youngsters on the youth council and kit for a new football team called Sweatbox United.

Garry Kingett, area youth worker for Wantage, Grove and Faringdon, said: "The football team has just started up and some of those kids were involved in antisocial behaviour, drinking and drug abuse. The football team has really helped reduce these sort of activities."

Cash is also going to the Riverside Centre based at Donnington Bridge in Oxford, which provides activities such as kayaking and rowing, the Local Youth Mentoring Scheme in Abingdon, and the Banbury Young Homeless Project, which plans to spend its money on preparing for a fundraising bike ride from Land's End to John O'Groats.

Grants have also been handed to 2507 Squadron ATC in Bicester, Springboard Family Project in Carterton, Chipping Norton School Trust Fund, Base 33 in Witney and Didcot Boys under-16s Football Club.

Police authority chairman Khan Juna said: "We are very keen to support organisations which help young people."

The New Destiny Trust, which fights knife crime in Oxfordshire, also received a £1,000 donation.