COMMUNITY organisations helping people deal with the impact of the credit crunch are in with a chance of a big cash hand-out.

The government has released £406,000 to help organisations in Kirklees which are seeing an increase in demand for their services.

Charities such as those giving advice on employment, homelessness, mental health and relationship break-down will be able to apply for grants of between £10,000 and £40,000.

Funding will be given to areas considered at risk of increasing levels of deprivation as a result of the recession.

The money is being distributed by the Community Foundation for Calderdale on behalf of Kirklees. A separate pot of cash is available for groups in Calderdale.

The Foundation is a registered charity that manages and distributes funds on behalf of individuals, charitable trusts and statutory bodies.In April it gave away £30,000 to local community groups in Huddersfield which bid for a slice of the cash.

It is hoped the money will boost services whose work is affected by the credit crunch.A spokeswoman for the Foundation said: and is very pleased to announce grants in the region of £25,000."Priority will be given to organisations who can demonstrate that demand for their services has increased as a result of the economic downturn.

"Activities under the following themes of information, advice and guidance, employment and employability, along with health and wellbeing can apply.

"The Foundation is managing the programme on behalf of the Office of the Third Sector.’’The Foundation will award grants to organisations that are offering services that supports needs and issues resulting from the credit crunch.Groups can apply for between £10,000 and £40,000. They can be a social enterprise active in the local community or an organisation that will bring benefits to the residents of Kirklees.Kirklees is considered one of those areas and will receive £406,000 for small, local and third sector service providers.But now social enterprises can benefit and for more information or to apply for funding

More than 40 groups got a windfall in April, when the Examiner teamed up with the Community Foundation for Calderdale.

Those to benefit ranged from Huddersfield Riding for the Disabled to Huddersfield Sharks Underwater Hockey Club.

To apply for a grant contact the Community Foundation for Calderdale on 01422 438 738 or visit www.cffc.co.uk.

Applications have to be in before June 29 and successful organisations will receive their grant in September.

The Office of the Third Sector (OTS) is part of the Cabinet Office and leads work across the government to support the environment for a thriving third sector (voluntary and community groups, charities and cooperatives and mutuals).

This enables the sector to campaign for change, deliver public services, promote social enterprise and strengthen communities. The OTS was created at the centre of government in May 2006 in recognition of the increasingly important role the third sector plays in society and the economy.