COMMUNITY groups dedicated to improving quality of life in Great Yarmouth are being urged to step forward and claim a slice of �5,624.

A plea has been made to groups in the Central and Northgate area to send in project ideas for how best to spend the money after �33,910 cash was awarded through the government’s Community First scheme.

Currently, a Yarmouth Central and Northgate Community First panel has been set up to deal with allocating the funding with a priority given to projects which will make a difference to people’s quality of life.

The panel are eager to receive submissions as quickly as possible as �5,624 of the pot has to be spent by the end of March.

Some of the ideas which could benefit from funding were put forward during a meeting at the Diversity Community Centre on Thursday.

The wish list drawn up by the panel included:

To maximise opportunities for people to gain skills or improve their qualifications to help them to access employment including work with the Priory Centre, Job Centre and Great Yarmouth College to find ways of engaging young people not currently in employment or training, as well as women wishing to return to the work place.

To foster ‘pride of place’, maintain and improve the environment, and mark out and promote Yarmouth walks for local people and visitors, especially riverside tow path, Yarmouth cemeteries and North Beach/Waterways.

Encourage the setting up of a new youth club and encourage the development of local youth football teams across the age spectrum to enable local boys and girls to enjoy taking part in competitive sport.

Help Great Yarmouth Town Football Club to survive as a Ridgeons League team and to thrive as a community hub.

Work with the Portuguese and other community groups to promote community cohesion and understanding.

Promote art, music and cultural activities within the ward that reflect the rich cultural diversity of the town.

Help build a resilient community able to face the rigours of flood, natural and man-made disasters - work with local community groups to develop a North Yarmouth Resilience Plan, with a longer-term aim of bringing together a Yarmouth Town plan for Southtown and Cobholm, Nelson, Central and Northgate and Yarmouth North.

The next panel meeting will be held on Thursday, February 2, at 2pm at the Diversity Community Centre, Broad Row. The deadline for submissions is Friday, January 27.

If you are a community group with a project which could benefit from the funding, send your application to thomas.garrod@norfolk.gov.uk and michael.castle50@ntlworld.com

For more information visit www.yarmouthcentralandnorthgate,posterous.com.