COMMUNITY groups in County Durham could benefit from a share of £500,000 from a charity dedicated to supporting former mining villages.

The Coalfields Community Investment Programme, delivered by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, is inviting groups to apply for up to £10,000 to support projects that will have a direct and lasting benefit on the employment, skills or health of local people.

Encouraging applications, the trust has simplified the two-stage submission process. In the first instance, a single form will be used to provide detail about the group and what it hopes to achieve with the funds requested before a straight-forward application is completed.

Andy Lock, head of operations (England) for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust said: “The process to apply for up to £10,000 has never been simpler.

"All community groups in coalfields within Durham have to do is explain how they would use the funds to benefit the employment, skills or health of those living within the local area.

“We want to make a difference to the coalfields, but we know that we need the help of residents and in particular community groups to do this. We have invested in hundreds of groups up and down the country and are really looking forward to hearing about the projects that we could support in Durham.”

The varied and complex challenges faced by the communities continue to have an adverse impact however with the support of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, which redirects resource and funds to these areas through strategic partnerships and Programmes, there is hope for a more positive future.

For further information www.coalfields-regen.org.uk.