THOUSANDS of pounds is being invested in Ryedale projects to improve the quality of life of its residents.

But more people are needed to help create blueprints for the next decade, said Jo Reilly, the district's community link officer who is masterminding an ambitious five year programme to develop opportunities which has been set up by North Yorkshire County Council with funding from the government's Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) with the aim of helping community regeneration.

Groups have been set up across Ryedale to create community investment prospectuses (CIPs).

"The aim is that they are produced by people in their own area who work together to gather information about what is already going on and what facilities are available, then look at where the gaps are and with the community draw up a plan to fill those gaps," said Ms Reilly.

Following the success of the Kirkbymoorside rural enterprise and advice centre, which opened last year in two converted public toilets, funding of £211,700 has been allocated to establish apprenticeship schemes to keep alive old crafts in the countryside, particularly in management, while the CIP group covering Pickering has been given £10,000, and those for Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, and the Malton and Norton areas a total of £30,000.

Projects which have benefited from the SRB's round six funding scheme include a children's adventure playground at Ebberston (which cost a total of £11,350), Harome Bowling Club (£7,783), Ryedale Community Transport Scheme (£9,900), a cyber cafe and after-school club at Helmsley Arts Centre (£8,810), Ryedale Child and Youth project which stages summer play schemes (£5,153) and a stairlift for Malton Museum (£8,000). Each received a percentage of the cost from the SRB fund, said Ms Reilly.