A FINAL reminder has been issued for people to submit bids for funding of up to £7,500 to support projects to benefit their area.

TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) – Working together for Bank Top and Lascelles, has secured funding of £35,000 for community projects and has invited bids from local individuals, organisations, groups or sport/social clubs.

Initiatives have to to help socially isolated adults and younger members of the community would be particularly welcome.

Since it was launched, 11 completed entries have been received, but there’s still time to for others to make a submission as the deadline has been extended to September 30.

Cllr Jonathan Dulston, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for community safety, said: “We’ve been working together with Police, Lascelles Community Partnership, ward councillors and local residents to enhance the Bank Top and Lascelles area and there’s been some great ideas coming through.

“But there’s still time to get involved and we’d love to see even more entries – it’ll then be up to the local people to choose the projects they like best.”

A shortlist of applications will be chosen and invited to a Dragons’ Den-style event to be held at Cleveland Bridge Social Club on Saturday 16 November. There they will be invited to make their ‘pitch’ as they compete to convince an audience of other local people to support their project.

A vote will then be held to choose the winning projects to receive funding of up to £7,500 each.

Ward councillors Wendy Newall and Helen Crumbie added: “If any residents or groups have any interesting, exciting ideas for enhancing the area, getting people involved in activities or bringing the community together we’d urge them to get their bids in.”

Entry forms are available at Firthmoor Police Station, The Community Hub at Eastbourne Park, or alternatively, via Facebook /TEAM-Working together for Bank Top and Lascelles.