THE Shadsworth with Whitebirk Big Local small grants fund is still open for applications from groups wishing to get a cash boost to enhance the area.

The ‘Big Local’ is a small grants fund for groups, being run by Blackburn with Darwen CVS on behalf of the Shadsworth with Whitebirk Big Local Partnership.

The fund is a part of the £1m Big Local Ten Year Programme for Shadsworth with Whitebirk and is open to all ward residents and local charities, as well as social enterprises, voluntary or community groups.

The group applying must not directly employ any paid members of staff and must be run by volunteers and use volunteers to deliver its activities.

Residents who have a good idea for a project but are not part of a group but have an idea can still apply.

The board will ask a local community group to hold the grant on their behalf.