PARENTS in a part of Hartlepool are being urged to make the most of a career-boosting grants initiative.

A cash pool, funded by the town's New Deal for Communities (NDC) programme, is available to help people pay for childcare so they can take up work, education or training, or go into voluntary work.

The Flexible Childcare Fund is designed to offer immediate support, ensuring parents are not held back while waiting for childcare money from Government or other sources.

More than £7,000 has been ploughed into the fund by NDC officials in the current financial year and people are now being encouraged to submit grant applications so that all of the money can be allocated by the end of March.

Individuals living in the NDC area or properly-constituted groups working for the benefit of NDC residents are eligible to apply for grants.

There is a ceiling of £500 a year on individual applications, but no limit to group bids.

The fund is primarily concerned with helping parents who have children up to 14 years old.

For information call Tracy Silcox on (01429) 523411.