VOLUNTARY and community organisations in Redcar and east Cleveland are being offered the chance of grant aid from a £360,000 kitty.

The Redcar and Cleveland Partnership, a group made up of public and private sector organisations, has created two funding pots - the Community Fund and the Voluntary Sector Investment Fund - to distribute the money over the next 18 months.

The Community Fund will provide grants of between £150 to £4,000 to small community organisations, while the Voluntary Sector Investment Fund is geared to larger organisations.

Both funds, managed by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, will be distributed by the Redcar and Cleveland Community Empower- ment Network.

Application forms can be accessed at www.rccn.org.uk - or from the council's external funding assistant Gema Andersson on (01642) 444229.