COMMUNITY initiatives will share £23,000 in grants if Sedgefield Borough Council's cabinet approves spending from the community regeneration revenue budget today.

The grants will be used for schemes including environmental improvements, community centres and a youth strategy.

A report to the council says: "The community regeneration budget provides a real opportunity for the council to directly contribute to community-based regeneration activity."

A programme of environmental improvements in the Dean Bank area of Ferryhill is poised to get £4,300. The initiative is a partnership between town and borough council and Groundwork East Durham, with input from the residents' association, police and the Literary Institute.

The Ladder Project, in Ferryhill, has applied for a contribution of £6,300 for a landscaping scheme for its gardens.

The project has been driven by the Lakes Residents' Association, which has leased and refurbished two properties to create a community house.

A grant of £2,000 is earmarked for the Jubilee Fields Community Centre Association, in Shildon, which will go towards resurfacing the car park.

The Aycliffe Support in the Community group has asked for £5,700 to help develop its work in one of the borough's most deprived communities.

A total of £4,200 will be spent on helping to bring broadband technology to community facilities in Trimdon Village, Grange and Colliery, West Cornforth and Fishburn. And a contribution of £500 will go to the Newton Aycliffe West Ward Youth Strategy, which is holding a consultation and participation event in the town's leisure centre.

If all grants are approved it will leave £6,600 which would be transferred to next year's budget.