A £225,000 pot is now open for groups to apply to receive funding.

St Albans City and District Council is looking to distribute £225,000 from the Community Partnerships Fund into three-year funding schemes between £5,000 and £25,000.

The funds, which will be distributed in April, is aimed to provide support to those supporting the most vulnerable in the community, and those applying must show evidence of the impact of their ongoing projects.

Cllr Brian Ellis, who is responsible for housing and inclusion for the council, said: "Funding applications will be welcomed from voluntary and community groups wanting to expand existing projects or to develop new schemes that support vulnerable people in our district.

"Projects funded in the past include a youth club, a bereavement service for young people and a mother and baby supported accommodation unit."

The funding can be used to expand existing services, develop new services or meet running costs, and can not be used to replace or replicate existing funding.

Organisations eligible to apply are those which encourage people from different groups in the community to get on well together, which increase people's involvement and interest in decision making, which support vulnerable communities towards greater equality and those which enable people to get more involved.

The closing date for applications is 12pm on February 19, and the decision will be made at the beginning of March by the grants panel.

More information about the relevant criteria is available on the council website at www.stalbans.gov.uk/communitygrants

The council is also hosting an information session on the grants between 4pm and 6pm on January 22, and is being held at their offices at the Civic Centre.