YOUTH GROUPS in East Devon are being given the chance to secure cash for local projects, as the local YouthBank takes to the road throughout March.

YOUTH GROUPS in East Devon are being given the chance to secure cash for local projects, as the local YouthBank takes to the road throughout March.

Entitled The East Devon YouthBank March, the events will take place at locations across East Devon to raise awareness of the YouthBank, and help local groups bid for cash from the service, which is supported by Devon County Council's Youth Service.

Devon County Council's Executive Member for Children and Young People's Services, Councillor John Smith, said: "The YouthBank distributes funding from Devon County Council to youth groups and young people to fund events, trips, equipment, staffing, specialist sports, music or arts tuition, training for health and safety advisors and all kinds of development projects.

"The project is already highly successful, and much of its success lies in the ability of young people to own the funding and make all the decisions about who benefits from it. Hopefully these roadshows will further promote the YouthBank and enable more young people to access money for their local projects."

Anyone between the ages of 13-19, and part of an organised group who wants to make a difference to the lives of 13 - 19 year olds can apply for a grant. A panel of young people from all over East Devon decides how to allocate the money, with every area represented, so applications are approved or rejected by people who genuinely know what young people need and want.

This project has produced many success stories already - last year, it gave away over �40,000 to young people and youth groups in East Devon, the largest awarded grants being in the region of �7,000, and many young people's lives have been improved by projects and experiences made possible by grants from the YouthBank.

In Axminster, a series of Beatbox workshops was funded for the local youth club; in Sidmouth the funding paid for a residential to set up their youth council; in Dunkeswell, Towers Studios film making project was funded; In Exmouth the money paid for the set-up of a group for young people with disabilities; and in Newton Poppleford funding was achieved for their rural voluntery youth club.

Mel Prowse, a member of East Devon YouthBank said: "If you want funding to start a local youth club, buy equipment for a youth group, organise a trip for a group of young people, extend the opening hours of your local youth club, or make any other idea that will benefit you and other young people happen, the first place to look is the YouthBank."

" Come along and find out about what we do, meet young people who decide where the money goes and people who have received grants from the YouthBank in the past, pick up application forms and information leaflets, network with other local voluntary organisations and have a coffee and a chat."

The roadshows will be in the following locations on Mondays throughout March:

Monday 9 March - Ottery St Mary: The Station Youth Club, Exeter Road, Ottery St Mary (6.30 - 8.30)

Monday 16 March - Exmouth Young People's Centre, 61 Imperial Road, Exmouth (6.30 to 8.30pm)

Monday 23 March - Sidmouth Young People's Centre, Manstone Lane, Sidmouth (6.30-8.30pm)

Monday 30 March - Axminster Young People's Centre, Lyme Road, Axminster (6.30-8.30pm)

Monday 6 April - Honiton 1064 Squadran ATC, St Marks Road, Honiton, (Air cadet building)

For more Info contact Dan Barton - dan.barton@devon.gov.uk or 01404 548735 or 07814685295