COMMUNITY groups that work with children are being urged to apply for grants of between £250 and £7,000.

The Local Network Fund for Children and Young People in Tyne and Wear has £500,000 to award to groups before April.

The fund has already helped the North Benwell Black Residents Support Group, Newcastle, and the Youth Parliament, in Pennywell, Sunderland.

"We are currently short of applications for this fund," said Francis Baring, fund administrator in Tyne and Wear. "The North Benwell Black Residents Support Group and the Youth Parliament are examples of important and innovative projects that have been supported by this fund. If anyone out there has considered projects like these but put them on the shelf for financial reasons, fill out an application form and give the Local Network Fund a try."

For an application pack, call 0845 1130161.