Grass roots projects in the Fermanagh area are being invited to apply for a share of £100,000 funding from Northern Bank.

The bank has launched a third round of its popular Community Grants programme which provides much-needed funds for local community activities that support knowledge or learning, the arts, or community sport. Rosamond Bennett, the Head of Communications, Northern Bank explained, "This is the third round of our very popular Community Grants programme, and we're expecting our biggest number of entries yet. Over the past two rounds, we have received over 1000 applications, made 155 awards and invested £200,000 in local communities throughout Northern Ireland.

"The projects we have supported are very wide ranging. They demonstrate how active our local communities are and what a valuable contribution they make to our society".

She quoted some examples from the Fermanagh area in the last round. They included a table tennis outreach programme to schools and foreign nationals, water aerobics for the over 50s and monthly traditional musical performances.

"Hundreds of people, from the young to the young at heart", she reported, " have benefited from these sorts of projects."

Not for profit organisations working at a local grass roots level are eligible to apply for a grant of between £500 and £5,000.

Application forms are available from all Northern Bank branches and online at www.northernbank.co.uk. The closing date for application is 12 noon Friday 29 February 2007.