CASH is up for grabs for equipment and tuition by budding young sportspeople, performance artists and community groups in a borough.

Ribble Valley Council has launched its 2018 sports and arts excellence grants scheme to help youngsters excel in sport, dance, drama and music.

The scheme has supported numerous young Ribble Valley athletes and performance artists at county and national level over the years, including Olympians Jon Schofield and Samantha Murray.

Grants of up to £3,000 will be available for up to 50 per cent of the cost of the scheme, but not for maintenance or running costs, and are only available to not-for-profit organisations.

These will be available from April 2018 for sport, dance, drama and music, with priority given to those with a strong track record in their chosen discipline and working towards formal qualifications.

The cash is also up for grabs as match funding for projects that improve arts activity in the borough, particularly for the disadvantaged and those with access difficulties.

Cllr Stuart Carefoot, chairman of the council’s community services committee, said: “The aim of the arts development grants is to invest in the development and improvement of arts activity in the borough, particularly projects that promote culture, health and wellbeing, and tackle rural isolation.”