The Heathrow Community Fund handed out £121,857 worth of grants to community projects across Hounslow borough during 2013.

The biggest single donation was £25,000 for the four-week Urban Ambush festival at the Watermans Art Centre, in Brentford, last summer.

A record £590,000 from the fund was shared between nine boroughs surrounding the airport, including Ealing and Hillingdon. The money came from a mixture of fines on airlines for breaching noise limits, a contribution from Heathrow Airport and donations from passengers using the airport.

Nearly 200 young people from Hounslow, Ealing and Hillingdon, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, worked with professional artists as part of Urban Ambush.

Jan Lennox, who helped run the festival, said: “The grant of £25,000 from Heathrow Community Fund was central to providing the range of activities that made the project such a great success.”

Caroline Nicholls, director of the fund, said: “This has been a record year both in terms of the number of grants we’ve awarded and the level of funds we’ve been able to donate to so many excellent community projects. It’s a privilege to be able to see at first hand the inspiring work done by dedicated local volunteers and community organisations.”

Charities in Hounslow and surrounding areas have been urged to apply for grants available this year. For more information about the scheme and how to apply, visit www.heathrow.com/communityfund.

Earlier this week, on a visit to Brentford, Prime Minister David Cameron was asked whether he still opposes the expansion of Heathrow Airport.