A COMMUNITY funding scheme has been revised and re-launched by Northumberland County Council.

Plans to change the future funding for the Community Chest fund were put before the five new local area councils to seek their views, before the scheme was relaunched earlier this month.

The Community Chest scheme allows voluntary and community groups to bid for funding for their projects.

One of the key changes is a new grant aimed specifically at the under 18s.

Under the new plans there will be a ‘Help For You’ scheme for young people.

Grants of up to £200 will be available to help individuals under the age of 18 to pursue a particular ambition – whether it is sporting, musical or academic.

For local schemes, there will be a £5,000 upper grant limit, with a maximum award of 75 per cent of the cost of any proposal.

These will be managed and allocated by Northumberland’s five local area councils, with the budget for each based broadly on the population within that area.

For county-wide projects, the pot has been doubled to £60,000.

Gordon Stewart, county councillor for Prudhoe South and chairman of the recently-formed Tynedale Area Council said: “I am delighted that so many great causes in Tynedale will have the opportunity to benefit from this fund. I am sure this will be very popular.”