COMMUNITY groups in the region could win a share of £2.5m when online voting opens to the public.

Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington, The Hope Foundation, Middlesbrough, and Safe in Tees Valley, Stockton, are among the 88 shortlisted organisations in the UK and Ireland competing for a share of the NatWest Skills and Opportunities Fund.

The fund is dedicated to supporting projects in disadvantaged communities that help people to help themselves by learning new skills, getting into the world of work or setting up their own business.

Voting runs from 12pm on Monday, June 15 until 12pm on Friday, June 19. The results of the public vote will count as one vote alongside those from a panel of judges in each region who will decide who wins funding next month.

Richard Topliss, Regional Managing Director at NatWest, said: “Opening the vote to the public gives the organisations who’ve applied the chance to mobilise support from their local community and stakeholders, as well as helping us to gauge what resonates with the public. Essentially, if it matters to you, then it matters to us.”

To vote visit www.skillsand opportunitiesfund.natwest.com