Almost £3m promised to town's community groups

It is hoped the money will allow community groups to come up with new ideas for Barrow

Almost £3m has been promised to voluntary and community groups working to improve their town.

The £2.8m Strategic Priorities Fund will support groups working in Barrow, in Cumbria, and will pay out £700,000 annually over the next four years.

The fund has now opened to applicants and Westmorland and Furness Council has urged people to apply.

Cumbria Council for Voluntary Service's CEO, Carolyn Otley, said she hoped the fund would enable organisations to generate "exciting project ideas" and give them greater financial stability.

"We've got many fantastic voluntary and community groups in Barrow, but we know they often struggle to find the funding to try out the new approaches that will really make a difference to local people, alongside continuing their existing work," she said.

Proposals need to align with at least one of the fund's priorities, which are:

• A focus on early intervention or prevention

• A focus on children, young people and families to address intergenerational challenges

• Helping people into work, training and volunteering

• Improving health and wellbeing

• Reducing deprivation and poverty

The funding is part of the £5m Social Impact Fund, which was launched earlier this year by Team Barrow, a partnership between the council and BAE Systems.

Groups have until 12:00 BST on 20 October to submit an expression of interest for the grants.