COMMUNITY groups in Redcar can apply to dip into a pioneering fund that has more than £1.6m to share.

Three one-hour seminars will be held this week to launch the West Redcar Community Investment Fund, the biggest funding project from the area's Single Regeneration Budget programme.

The fund is split into the Community Chest, which will grant up to £1,000 to any group or organisation to improve the quality of life and the Community Investment Fund, which can grant revenue awards from £1,000, available to constituted groups and organisations to develop activities.

Applications will be processed by an independent scrutiny panel, chosen by the community forums in West Redcar's wards, Kirk-leatham, Newcomen, Dormanstown and Coatham.

Groups are already seeing the benefits, including £900 to the Cleveland Retired Men's Association for PA equipment, £710 to Coatham House, Redcar, for a washing machine, £295 to the Take Heart Support Group for room hire and £500 to the Harwal Action Group for gardening equipment.

The seminars are today, at Greengates Primary School, at 5pm, and at Carlton Community Hall, Dormanstown at 7.15pm, and on Friday, at Redcar Library at 1.30pm.

For more information, call the special projects unit on (01642) 444303 or 444308.