VOLUNTARY and community organisations in Burnley will now be able to bid for Euro cash allocated by Burnley Council.

Grants of £500 to £6,000 will be handed out to allow them to expand their activities, or even to allow new organisations to be formed.

Councillor Don Hall, the council's executive member for regeneration and housing said: "It is often difficult for smaller organisations to apply for funding, even when a relatively small amount is all that's required.

"The Global Grants scheme makes the whole process easier, and ensures that European funding reaches the grass roots level."

The scheme will support activities such as training, volunteering costs, counselling and helping people to gain skills and confidence that can lead to them getting a job.

Supported by the European Social Fund, the Global Grants scheme has been developed to make it easier for small groups to apply for funding -- and more importantly to be successful in securing it.

The council revealed it hopes to have up to £30,000 available in small grants over the next year.

One of the organisations which may benefit from the new scheme is the Caring Accrington Road Residents group (CARR).

It is already an established group which has instigated many initiatives, including a neighbourhood clean-up operation earlier in the year.

CARR member Councillor Liz Monk, said that community groups and voluntary organisation play a vital part in community cohesion.

She added: "Funds like this help groups like us to sustain communities and help to build them.

"They also help to create empowerment within communities to enable them to do things for themselves. Be it youth work or be it environmental work like planting trees."

The scheme will be widely publicised and application packs made available.