Town and parish councils in north Norfolk, along with voluntary and community organisations, are being offered the chance to apply for grants from a new 'big society' fund.

North Norfolk District Council's (NNDC) fund, which is being launched on Monday March 26, has �450,000 available for 2012/13, and offers grants to community projects intended to improve or support the wellbeing of communities and/or deliver improvements to the local economy in north Norfolk.

The council said the aim was for the grants to be easy to access for a wide range of community and charitable organisations and applications would be considered throughout the year.

The fund will be overseen by a cross-party board of district council members, while day-to-day administration will be undertaken on the council's behalf by the Norfolk Community Foundation, to which organisation all applications should be made.

Applications are invited from April 2 and those submitted before May 4 will be considered at the first meeting of the board on May 21.

Trevor Ivory, NNDC cabinet member for localism and the big society, said: 'We are very excited to be able to offer this support to North Norfolk's communities and voluntary groups, especially at a time when funding is in short supply.'

? For further information on the fund and details of how to apply, visit www.northnorfolk.org/bigsocietyfund.