GRANTS worth more than £400,000 have been awarded to 19 projects in the North-East.

The money has come from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and will be used on projects such as the Supporting Parents Network, in Stanley, County Durham. It is getting £4,300 to train two workers from Advisory Centre for Education and to buy equipment.

Ashleigh Gibson, Bridging The Gap community development worker for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, in the North-East, said: "As a charity, we support community activities that bring people together.

"We encourage people to take a more active part in regenerating their local areas and this is reflected in the way grants are awarded."

The trust has supported more than 360 groups in North-East coalfield communities with grants of more than£13.5m.

Projects include improvements to community facilities, promoting life-long learning and providing jobs and training.