A STRING of community organisations in York is set to get a share of more than £200,000 to allow the groups to provide chances for young volunteers.

The cash is being provided following the second round of bids through the York Youth Community Action Pilot scheme, which invited organisations to make an application for extra funding.

The money they receive goes towards schemes involving volunteers aged between 14 and 16, with the city having received a £1.38 million Government grant after being chosen as one of five areas to trial and develop the project.

The bids are set to be approved next week at a decision session for City of York Council’s executive member for children and young people’s services, Coun Carol Runciman.

They include £20,000 for Walmgate-based Space 109’s youth café and Saturday arts centre, and £30,000 each for initiatives at York Playspace and York Theatre Royal.

Meanwhile, the York City Knights Foundation is earmarked for £34,626 for its sports club volunteering programme, while another £30,000 is set to go to York Museums Trust to help its Interpret scheme, which sees youngsters help visitors appreciate the artefacts it puts on show.

In total, ten schemes are expected to receive a share of £213,856, with more groups being invited to make bids in the third round of funding, which closes at the end of August.

“The project is committed to providing opportunities for young people who may miss out, including those who are hard to reach and those who are disabled or identified as in need of additional services,” said a report on the scheme.

“Organisations have been invited to apply for funding to deliver volunteering projects in which young people engage in community actions which matter to them, with demonstrable impacts in their school or community.”