GROUPS and businesses are urged to apply for funding designed to ensure local people benefit from Europe’s largest potash mine.

The Sirius Minerals Foundation is an independent charity set up to share revenue from the company’s Woodsmith Mine at Sneaton, near Whitby, which is currently under construction.

The mine is expected to create more than 1,000 direct jobs and support a similar number in the supply chain.

It will extract the fertiliser polyhalite, which is reputed for encouraging strong crop growth, with production expected to get underway in late 2021.

The first round of funding available is £100,000.

However, future grants will be taken from a pot fed by 0.5 per cent of sales from the mine – which could potentially involve as much as £10m.

Organisations have until Monday, July 31 to apply for the first funding round via the Sirius Minerals Foundation website.

“The foundation is an integral part of our approach,” said Chris Fraser, managing director and chief executive at Sirius Minerals.

“It has always been important to us that the local area benefits as much as possible.

“The foundation is an important means to help us achieve that and to provide a lasting legacy for the local community.”

The organisation will fund a range of community projects: from bursaries, scholarships or skills training for local people; to improving public spaces and facilities, health and wellbeing or environmental initiatives, and community building schemes.

During the first round of £100,000, grants of between £500 and £5,000 will be available for projects throughout the area.

Priority for this round will be given to bids from the immediate vicinity of the mine infrastructure, within ten miles of Woodsmith Mine and five miles of the mineral transport system access points or the material handling facility on Teesside.

Future funding will be open to applicants or projects across a wider area.

“The Foundation represents a unique opportunity,” said its chairman, David Archer.

“So, if you’ve been wanting to purchase new equipment for your community group, make improvements to your local community buildings or facilities, or undertake an environmental project, for example, then we want you to submit a bid.

“We’re very keen to understand where the community demand is, so we want to see lots of well thought through submissions.”

Successful applicants must demonstrate their project will directly improve the lives of local people. Those shortlisted should receive a visits from the foundation in September.