COMMUNITY groups can apply for a grant from a £20,000 pot aimed at supporting new and old projects.

County Durham Housing Group has launched the fund to help support community events, help people get training and to buy equipment.

A new group grant scheme will offer up to £500 and is available to new groups trying to get off the ground as well as longstanding organisations.

Funding decisions will be made monthly and any community organisation, non-profit making group, charity or school working in the areas served by County Durham Housing Group is eligible, which includes most of central and east Durham.

County Durham Housing Group Community Investment Manager, Rachel Edmunds, said: “We know that there are groups right across the county who are keen to make a difference in their community; where even relatively small amounts of funding could make all the difference to what they can achieve.

“This new scheme has been specifically designed to help those groups and even to help new organisations make their first steps.

“We’re hoping group grant will help to make lots of projects possible right across the county.”

Full details of the group grant scheme are available by visiting www.countydurhamhousinggroup.co.uk or by calling 0191 349 7777.