Community groups are being encouraged to apply for a share of the Sheds Grant Fund.

Sheds are community workshop spaces where people come together to take part in practical skills and activities.

They are designed and run by their members and provide opportunities for people to share tools, resources and skills in order to create, learn and develop social networks.

Older people’s charity Royal Voluntary Service, with funding from the Asda Foundation, run the Sheds Grant Fund to provide small scale funding to Shed projects that are looking for help with either set-up or next stage development costs.

Jo Phillips, of Royal Voluntary Service, said: “Whether it is for woodworking, gardening, model making, weaving or electronics, we are delighted to be able to give a helping hand to local communities who want to get a community-based Shed up and running.”

Grants of between £250 and £1,000 are available from the Sheds Grant Fund.

All applications must come from constituted, volunteer-led community groups and must be submitted by the deadline of Sunday, September 24, to be considered.

To find out more or download an application form, visit www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/sheds