COMMUNITY and voluntary groups in parts of Nelson and Brierfield are set to benefit from a £60,000 Community Chest fund during the next three years.

The £20,000 each year will be a key part of Pendle Partnership's community and voluntary sector network and will be made available from November to Pendle groups who reside in or provide benefits to people living in the SRB6 area.

This includes Brierfield, Bradley, Whitefield and Nelson West.

Applications for the cash will go before a management committee, which was elected by local community and voluntary groups to represent the views of local people.

The six members are Dorothy Lowe, Brian Holmes, Mrs Dr Raisa Malik, Shahzad Shafi, Mudassar Ali and Damian Duggan.

Mohammed Sarfraz, the council's community and voluntary sector coordinator, said: "Any group which is interested in submitting a bid for community chest funding should contact me. Both myself and the CED workers will be available to give advice and support in filling in the funding application forms."

A meeting was held last night at Nelson and Colne College to discuss the setting up of the sector network.

Members of the public were able to find out more about how it will bring the full range of voluntary and community organisations together, particularly those in deprived neighbourhoods, to ensure they are involved in important decisions.

The network will also have a link to the Government's Community Empowerment Fund.

Mr Sarfraz said: "The network will allow people and communities to voice their concerns and suggestions to the council through the new Local Strategic Partnership."

The council and Pendle Partnership are also developing a database holding information about Pendle's community and voluntary sector organisations, which will provide anyone with a free entry on the database to information about funding and training opportunities.

Mr Sarfraz said: "Groups that aren't currently on the database are missing out on a great opportunity.

"We will shortly be sending out questionnaires and urging all groups who receive one to complete and return it as soon as possible."

Any Pendle-based community and voluntary groups who don't receive a questionnaire and wish to be added to the database, or would like further information about the funding, should contact Mr Sarfraz on 01282 661676.