HOW would you like to be part of the panel that will decide how the Park ward could benefit from up to £68,000 of funding?

Then make sure you attend tomorrow night's meeting of the Park Ward Action Group, when you can find out how.

The main item up for discussion is the Community First funding programme, which will see £34,000 in central government funding being allocated to the area.

The programme is also designed to pull in match funding – whether through grants, volunteer work or other resources – which could see the value of the scheme doubled for those living in the area.

And the best part is that it is the community who get to decide which issues need to be tackled and how the money can be best spent to do it – with the decision-making panel including between four and eight members of the public.

Applicants for the posts must:

Live or work in the ward, or be a member of a group which works in the ward.

Be aged 18 or over.

Agree to work to set terms of reference.

Never have been convicted of fraud, been declared bankrupt or held a senior post in an organisation that has gone into administration.

Councillor Andrew De Freitas, the leader of the North East Lincolnshire Council Lib Dem group and Park ward councillor, said: "It is a really exciting opportunity for Park ward residents to have their say on how this additional funding should be used to benefit the community. It must reflect the needs and priorities that the residents have identified.

"It's important that we establish this panel with many members of the community, so that they can get involved in the decision-making process of how this £34,000 should be spent in their locality.

"We want the residents to come forward with ideas of where they think we should spend the money.

"It is not right for me as an elected member to tell them where it should be allocated. They should be making the decisions."

His appeal was echoed by NELC's area co-ordinator, Jane Mansfield, who added she was keen to get local business owners to attend.

She said: "The aim of tomorrow's meeting is to see if there are community groups which would benefit from the funding from April 1 onwards.

"It is a very diverse ward and we want a nice mix of people.

"There are a lot of people in the ward with a lot of knowledge, who have a lot to give to the community.

"I would urge them to come along and find out more about it and go through the process to see if they would like to be on the panel."

Find out more

The Park Ward Action Group will meet from 6.30pm tomorrow at St Augustine's Church Hall.

If you are unable to attend, but would like more information on getting involved, call Jane on 01472 323007 or write to Jane Mansfield, 1 Burwell Drive, Grimsby, DN33 1PH.