SEVERAL voluntary organisations in Redbridge are set to benefit from a grants scheme over the next year.

Bridge House Estates, part of the Corporation of London, has designated the borough as one of many it will help fund for various projects.

The Trust, together with the Media Trust group, has set aside £1m to provide assistance to small local voluntary organisations. Each group assisted could receive between £500 and £5,000.

Trust committee chairman Peter Rigby, said: It's been clear that our grants have greatly welcomed by the different organisations already.

What is most apparant, is that for most of the groups, the grant is a lifesaver. The trust has a vital role to play in sustaining the smaller organisations which do so much to enrich their communities.

The trust held a special launch to mark the continuation of the scheme, which will see Redbridge and 10 other London boroughs benefit.

Any funding given to boroughs will include training facilities for volunteers and staff and advice on how to promote their organisation in the community.

Deputy chief executive of the Media Trust group, Dyrol Lumbard said: Small voluntary organisations need to get their message across to users, volunteers and funders.

We will offer training to the organisations in these boroughs, covered by the grants to achieve all its objectives.

At the launch was veteran broadcaster and journalist Jon Snow.

Welcoming the initiative, he said: This scheme will provide invaluable support to smaller voluntary sector organisations in the London boroughs and bring the benefits of their work to a wider audience.

Individual organisations in Redbridge that will benefit, have not yet been named by the trust.

For more information on the Bridge House Estates Trust, call 020 7332 3710.