YOUNG people throughout Sedgefield borough could get their hands on a slice of cash being offered through a new grants scheme.

The Koolkash initiative is offering £150,000 to community and voluntary projects and clubs catering for five to 19-year-olds.

Windfalls of up to £2,000 will be donated to projects that promote healthy living, safety, lead to enjoyment and achievement, make a positive contribution or support economic well-being.

The cash can be used to buy new equipment, pay staff, send members on training courses, hold events or cover transport and venue costs.

Chairman of the scheme, Coun John Robinson said: "We want people in all of the towns and villages across Sedgefield borough to know about the scheme.

"I don't want to see any money left at the end of the year because I hope it will have gone to deserving causes."

A grants panel that will award the cash, which includes six young people, is appealing for more youngsters, particularly from the Fishburn and Trimdon area, to join the ranks.

A similar scheme, called the youth development fund, was started by Sedgefield Borough Council in 1995 and saw £270,000 shared between about 100 groups.

The initial donations then generated a further £1m of match funding from other grant agencies and reached more than 5,000 young people.

When the youth development fund was closed in April 2002 there was still £30,000 left in the kitty.

Now that pot of cash has been boosted by £100,000 from Sedgefield Borough Council and £20,000 from County Durham's Children's Fund and was re-launched as Koolkash, on Monday at Locomotion: The National Railway Musuem at Shildon.

Joanne King, Sedgefield Borough Council's leisure project officer, said: "The youth development fund supported a lot of youth schemes in its seven years, which are still feeling the benefit now. Some have grown or survived because of that cash injection.

"We think we have reinvigorated that with Koolkash.

"It should boost leisure time, social education and life skills of children and young people in the Sedgefield borough, providing new facilities and equal opportunities."

For further details on the scheme contact Joanne King at the council on (01388) 816166.