A NEW fund which enables small rural community projects to tap into up to £15,000 in grant funding has been launched in South Devon.

The Community Facilities Fund is designed to provide capital funding aimed at small local projects in rural areas which seek to deliver and improve access to services, develop and enhance community facilities and increase communities' social, economic or environmental sustainability.

It could be used to develop village halls, community shops, allotments, renewable energy schemes and recreational facilities or other innovative community enterprise providing access to key services.

Jill Davies, from South Hams Community and Voluntary Services, said: "This fund provides an exciting opportunity for communities to develop existing facilities or provide access to new services.

"We look forward to supporting some valuable projects"

Eligible applicants must be new and existing 'not for profit' organisations like community or voluntary groups, parish councils, charities or social enterprises.

The Community Facilities Fund will contribute a maximum of 50 per cent of the total eligible project costs.

Applicants will need to raise the remaining match funding from other sources.

Funding starts at £2,500 rising to a maximum £15,000 per project.

The scheme is part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for European Development 2007-2013: Europe investing in rural areas and is being delivered through the South West Regional Development Agency with Defra as the managing authority.

For details of the scheme, contact Devon Renaissance on: 01837 658643 or email CFF@ruraldevon.org