COMMUNITY projects in Hambleton are to receive a cash boost after the district council pledged an extra £50,000 to help them through the economic downturn.

Most of the cash will be put towards the Community Pot, a grant scheme to help community organisations deliver small local projects.

Another £10,000 will go towards grants for schemes to help parish councils and voluntary groups provide safe, stimulating and physically challenging children’s play areas.

Start-up grants are also available to help voluntary organisations buy facilities and equipment to increase participation in sport.

To be eligible for the extra funding the projects must have been identified by the Hambleton Strategic Partnership’s Community Plan or in a Parish Plan.

New or existing projects can apply to enter the Partnership, but they must be able to outline clearly what they hope to achieve and show they can start work as soon as possible.

In the last five years the Strategic Partnership has handed out more than £250,000 to local projects, working to improve facilities such as village halls, which can then open their doors to a wide range of groups that provide support or recreation to different parts of the community.

The extra funding comes after the district council signed up to a pledge with other councils and police and fire authorities from across Yorkshire and the Humber, to work to ease some of the hardships caused by the current economic climate.

The funding also aims to put groups in a strong position so they can move forward when the recession eases.

Leader of the council, Arthur Barker, said: "By supporting our communities through grant aid we can help get them through these difficult times. "This is about community action and helping to deliver improvements to the local area, which will have a positive impact on quality of life."

The deadline for applications to the Community Grants Regional Pledge Fund is Friday, June 26.

For further information, to apply for funding, or to join the Strategic Partnership, contact Peter Cole, community link officer, on 01609-767212 or peter.cole@hambleton.gov.uk or David Earl, community leisure officer, on 01609-767202 or david.earl@hambleton.gov.uk