COMMUNITIES across Hambleton have the chance to bid for cash to invest in recreation and services for their villages and towns with the latest £125,000 set of grants aimed at making a difference.

This is the third year the money has been on offer, with £375,000 earmarked since 2015 for the special projects and schemes that communities and voluntary groups can use to make lives better.

Hambleton district council runs the scheme, but the money is invested and used by local people with grants of between £2,500 and £20,000 on offer.

The main stipulation is that the projects must offer the best solutions to local challenges, demonstrate community support and address one of the council’s priorities including driving economic vitality, enhancing health and wellbeing, caring for the environment or providing a special place to live.

This year £25,000 of the £125,000 on offer has already been allocated to support libraries in the market towns, leaving £100,000 to share between the five towns and the surrounding areas.

Last year 29 community projects benefitted from the scheme, with grants being used on village hall refurbishments, improvements to children’s play areas and helping sports clubs buy new equipment to encourage people to take part in sporting activities.

Council Leader Mark Robson said: “The council is keen to support the wide range of community projects underway across the district that make a real difference to people’s lives. By making these grants available we are responding to the needs of our local communities and helping them help themselves.’’