Community groups and organisations across Staffordshire will be able to put their case forward for a share of funding from their county councillor following the launch of a new initiative this week.

The Staffordshire Local Community Fund, launched yesterday, and will see every county councillor receive an allocation of £10,000 to spend in their area. Applications are now being invited for grants from the new fund, which replaces the local member initiative scheme.

The council’s cabinet member for communities and culture Councillor Ben Adams urged local groups to get in contact with their county councillor or the county council to find out more about the fund.

“All of our county councillors have a vital role to play in their communities.

“The new local community fund is one way of them responding to the needs of groups and organisations in their area which do such important jobs for people living there,” he said.

“There have been some great examples of how organisations have benefited from this money in the past.

“And while local councillors cannot accommodate every request, we are very much looking forward to seeing the many success stories that the new local community fund will bring,” he said.

He said the Tory-controlled council planned to quickly build and expand the Staffordshire Local Community Fund. “The fund is about focusing spending on what matters to communities across Staffordshire – and local councillors are the best people to know what these issues are.

“ I’ve asked every councillor to start talking to their constituents and local communities now so they are ready with their wish lists.”

Anyone who would like to find out more about the local community fund should contact their local county councillor or go to www.staffordshire.gov.uk