PEOPLE who live, work, volunteer or study in and around the Chester-le-Street and district area can choose which local projects should receive a share of £25,000.

Twenty-four groups are vying for a share of the funding from the Chester-le-Street and District Area Action Partnership (AAP). Members of the public will decide which organisations benefit from the AAP’s It’s Up 2 U Community Grant Fund.

The organisations will present their case for funding, explaining more about their projects and how they would spend the funding, at Park View Academy between 10am and 2pm on Saturday March 28.

During the event, members of the public can vote to decide which groups the funding is awarded to.

Anyone who lives, works, volunteers or studies in the Chester-le-Street and District AAP area and is 11-years-old or over is invited to vote on which projects they feel will most benefit their local community.

Organisations have been split into two groups competing for different amounts of funding. Group A features projects applying for a grant of £1,250 or lower and group B features projects applying for grants of more than £1,250.

People will be able to vote for two projects from each group before having their say on which areas of work they think the AAP should focus on as its future priorities.

The event will also offer community safety advice and equipment, and people will be able to view sculptures made by local school children with eco-bricks through the ‘Building a Waste Free Future’ project.

Michael Wilkes, Chester-le-Street and District Area Action Partnership co-ordinator, said: “The event promises to be a really exciting opportunity for members of our community to get involved in making local decisions. You can only do this by being there on the day so we’re encouraging people to make sure that they come along and make their vote count.”

The projects included in the ballot are:

Group A

• SHAID (Single Homeless Action Initiative Durham), St Peter’s Court - Enrichment Activities

• Solan Connor Fawcett Family Cancer Trust – Team Solan Supports More Warriors

• Dryburn Theatre Workshop – Relaxed Pantomime Performance

• Society of Disabled Artists (SODA) – SODA Out in the Community

• Burnmoor Juniors Cricket Club – Burnmoor Juniors Cricket – Annexe Improvements

• Press a Different Button, Durham Christian Partnership (PadB) – PadB Music for Wellbeing

• Foundation of Light – Then and Now CLS

• Great Lumley Methodist Church Brass Band – Little Learners

• Chester-le-Street & District Athletics Club – Mini Sports

• Chester-le-Street Amateur Swimming Club – Backstroke Ledges

• Park View Academy of Sport – Multi-Skills Holiday Coaching

• The Craft Cabin North East CIC – Art4All

• Parish Church of St Mary and St Cuthbert – Ignite After School Club

Group B

• Integrating Children (known as Integrating) – ‘Rugability’ Project

• If U Care Share Foundation – Suicide Prevention and Post-vention Counselling Space

• Culture 4 Kids CIC – Our Roots, Our Way

• 1st Burnmoor Scouts – Access for All

• Durham Cricket Foundation – ChesterFest

• Friends of Riverside Park – Waiting for the Ferry

• Hilda Park Football Club – Pitch Improvements

• Chester-le-Street Sea Cadets – New Safety Boat

• 4th Chester-le-Street Scout Group – Learning Garden

• Park View Community Centre – Improving Space at Park View Community Centre

• Chester-le-Street Church of England Primary School – Outdoor Play and Climb Equipment