GRANTS of between £250 and £1500 are available to small community or voluntary groups in and around the Yorkshire Dales that need funding to help continue or expand initiatives that benefit local people.

Through the Roger Stott Community Grant programme, the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust is keen to distribute grants to groups with an annual income of less than £30,000.

And no match-funding is required, so groups can apply for up to 100 percent of the total project costs, said Tanya St. Pierre, the trust's project officer,

The grants aimed to support a range of uses that met an identified need in the community and the funding could be used to cover revenue expenses.

Included were staff costs, rent or training, or for capital investment in assets such as furniture, computers or catering equipment, to name just a few.

“I’m looking forward to receiving proposals for projects that will have a big impact for communities in and around the Yorkshire Dales and Nidderdale.

"Since the launch of the Roger Stott Community Grants programme almost a year ago, we’ve awarded 28 grants totalling £32,326 to support a wide variety of projects that are making a real difference to local people,” she said.

Recent successful applications came from Austwick Bowling Club, Gargrave Heritage Group, Malham Parish Youth Group and Kendal’s Window on Arts, and a project based giving elderly residents the opportunity to engage with the community through memory maps and art.

Yorebridge Sports Development Association were awarded £1,485 to support the Learning Curve project in Askrigg, providing a variety of adult learning classes.

Learning Curve spokesperson Jan Hale said: “The grant helped to cover the costs of venue hire, tuition fees and a new projector.

"Feedback has been excellent and based on the success we have had so far we are confident that the project will continue to grow and ultimately be self-financing. We would not have succeeded thus far without the Roger Stott grant which kick-started our project - thank you.”

Hellifield Youth & Community also received a grant of £1,500. Revd Stuart Stobart said: “We’re very grateful to Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust for this funding which will help us to purchase and install new play equipment for 2-5 year olds.

"It’s been a pleasure to see all generations of the community come together to support our ambitious plans for the village playing grounds.

"Local mums have raised £700 towards the project, and we’d also like to thank Hellifield WI, Hellifield Gala Committee, the Parish Council, North Yorkshire Council and Hellifield Youth for their donations and support.”

The Roger Stott grant programme was set up in memory of Roger Stott, the founding Chairman of YDMT who died in 2015.

His son Roger Stott, said: “I feel extremely proud that when great enterprise and initiates are being developed in the Dales, in some small way it feels like my Dad is there, still trying to help as he always did. He's sadly missed but his legacy lives on.”

The Roger Stott Community Grant programme is made possible thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, who have raised £1,226,332 for YDMT over the last eight years.

Visit www.ydmt.org/resources to download the application form, guidance notes and map of the eligible area. For more information please contact the project officer Tanya St. Pierre on 015242 51002 or email tanya.stpierre@ydmt.org.

The closing date is 5pm on Friday, March 31. Final decisions will be made on Thursday, May 18.