COMMUNITY groups will have the chance to win a share of £35,000 when our third Cash For Your Community campaign launches next week.
Nottingham Building Society and the Nottingham Post have teamed up once again for the initiative, which aims to lend a hand to struggling charities as cutbacks continue to bite.
Readers will decide how much of the £35,000 cash pot is given to each group by collecting coupons and choosing a club to vote for.
Every group, club and not-for-profit organisation to have successfully made the final 200 is guaranteed a payout, with the amount of cash they receive depending heavily on the readers' support . This year the three groups which collect the most coupons will also receive a bonus prize of £1,000.
Chief executive of Nottingham Building Society David Marlow said: "This is the third year that we have worked with The Post on Cash For Your Community. In the last two years we have together distributed £70,000 to worthy causes across the region.
"The variety of the recipients has been extraordinary: from hospices to elderly groups, from primary schools to lifesaving clubs, from soup kitchens to scouts and even a local city farm.
"I know from talking to many of the groups that it's not just about the money, it's about profile too. With our partners at The Post we have been able to help raise the profile of these groups in their community, highlight the invaluable work they do and help them engage with existing and new supporters.
"I am sure Cash For Your Community 2013 will be just as successful as in previous years, and we look forward to the application process opening."
Registration for Cash For Your Community will open on Monday, May 13.
Any not-for-profit organisation can register and the first 200 groups to get their form in will be successful.
Registration will close at 5pm on Wednesday, May 22.
Readers will then be able to vote for the group they would like to see win the most cash from Monday, June 17, when the first coupons will be printed in the Post.
All coupons must then be sent in to the Post by 5pm on Wednesday, July 17.
Last year's £35,000 giveaway saw groups receive payments ranging from £11.29 to £2,347.57.
Nottingham Community Transport, which runs a Dial A Ride service for disabled people, received £340.75 after applying for the first time.
Project manager David Sweard-Tye said the money had been spent on improving the service for its users.
"We were very pleased to do so well," he said. "I know there were a lot of groups out there that do lots of charitable work, and to see the recognition from our customers who were collecting the tokens was really nice.
"Any extra funding or donation that we get is always greatly appreciated."
