Voluntary and community groups could be in line for a cash boost.

East Sussex County Council is investing £50,000 a year for two years on a "seedcorn" project designed to help small voluntary organisations and community groups improve the projects they provide or offer new services.

The cash is part of the council's Community Partnership Finance programme and groups can apply for up to £5,000, although smaller applications will be encouraged.

The money is available to help fund innovative projects in local communities, help deliver an existing local service to a wider geographical area and to help with new ways of getting people involved in voluntary projects.

Bob Tidy, cabinet member for community services, said: "From small acorns do big oak trees grow and this initiative will provide small amounts of funding that hopefully will have a big impact on hundreds of local voluntary projects."

The seedcorn funding is part of £700,000 that the county council is providing for voluntary and community groups in East Sussex over the next two years.

For further details about the seedcorn fund, contact Hastings Voluntary Action on 01424 444010.