COMMUNITY groups in the most deprived wards in Preston can bid for the share of a cash pot unlocked by the government this week.

The money is part of a £50 million national community chest made accessible by the government and announced by the Regeneration Minister, Lord Falconer, on Tuesday.

Local communities and small-scale voluntary organisations in the wards of Avenham, Brookfield, Central, Deepdale, Fishwick, Ribbleton, Riversway and St Matthew's are eligible to bid for over £85,000 of funds.

This money will be backed by further cash injections over the next three years.

Payments of between £50 and £5000 can be made to support single projects or activities.

Bureaucracy

The aim is to make funds easy to access, involving a minimum of bureaucracy.

St Matthew's Councillor Veronica Afri said: "This is very good news. Voluntary groups come and go because of lack of funding. We have just had a new sports facility built at St Joseph's School but we will need someone to run it, this money will help."

Another Councillor, Eric Fazackerley of Sharoe Green, whose ward is not eligible for funding, said it was only right that the most poor areas in the centre of the town received the boost.

He said: "This money is aimed to raise the standard of living in all areas up to the best in the area and I agree with that."

Some of examples of the type of initiatives which will be supported are funding a community event, renovating disused premises and promoting social cohesion.