TEN community projects in Richmondshire have been allocated £123,500 between them.

Funding has been awarded to projects that include the refurbishment of a community hall, improvements to play areas and a rural IT project.

The money has come from Richmondshire District Council’s Communities Opportunity Fund (COF). So far it has allocated £123,500 out of the £514,300 available.

Applications for grants from the fund, which supports community projects across the district, opened on April 1. The authority diverts its New Homes Bonus into the fund, which is a national incentive designed to reward councils promoting housing growth.

The money allocated so far includes:

• £18,139 for Reeth and District Memorial Hall for a refurbishment project;

• £14,926 for the Joint Burial Authority for Colburn, Hipswell and Scotton to improve the car park at the Hipswell cemetery;

• £3,245 to support a new Community IT suite for The Upper Wensleydale Community Partnership, which will be open to the community when needed and for skills courses;

• £6,718 to Bainbridge Parish Council for a revamp of the play park;

• £9,590 to Leyburn Town Team - a group of local businesses and interested residents - for new visitor signage in Leyburn;

• £2,873 to implement a new website for Colburn Town Council to advertise local community events as well as council business;

• £17,250 to improve the toilet facilities at Gilling West Village Hall;

• £10,000 for Richmondshire Cricket Club, to provide partitions in the clubhouse to enable the club to hold several events at the same time;

• £9,925 for Parents4Parents North Yorkshire, a support organisation based in the Richmond and Catterick area;

• £12,000 to Marrick Priory Trust: to support a refurbishment project which will see a new outdoor classroom, the installation of a decked area and creation of a terraced activity area. The project is being match funded through £12,000 of Marrick Priory reserves and a grant of £55,725 from the MOD Community Covenant Grant Scheme.

To apply for funding for a community-based project, or arts or cultural festivals and events, each grant bid must gain the support of the district councillor for the ward in which the project most applies.

Applications for less than £5,000 have until January 31, 2016 to apply and applications for over £5,000 should be returned by December 15, 2015.

For more information on the scheme call Samantha Coultish on 01748-901037. To download application forms visit richmondshire.gov.uk and search under COF.