Community groups can bid for cash from a £50,000 fund set up by developers of the massive Brent Cross Town regeneration scheme.

Ideas that have been given money from the fund in previous years included ‘Keep Rolling’ skateboarding and art workshops inspiring youngsters aged eight to 18 to be more active and to build their self-confidence.

Another was Clitterhouse urban farm’s ‘forest school’ nature play for disadvantaged children and gardening workshops for adults.

But this year’s theme, in partnership with Barnet Council, is schemes aiming to fill the skills gap in the jobs market and to help those looking for work to develop their skills or even to go into further education.

The deadline to apply to Brent Cross Town’s Related Argent urban regeneration company, for grants from £3,000 to £10,000, is October 24.

“We are able to bring the fund back again for a sixth year,” the company’s director Morwenna Hall said.

“There are many enterprising ways communities are supporting each other, which is what we want to achieve at Brent Cross Town.”

There is a need to get up to speed with the government’s priority to “break down barriers to opportunity”, say organisers. So the emphasis is on training and employment. 

A panel of judges is ready to draw up a shortlist of worthy causes, with households across Barnet to be asked through an online poll to choose who gets the cash.

One of the judges is Barnet councillor Alan Schneiderman from Cricklewood. He said: “Local groups could benefit from this extra funding. This is aimed at creating employment, training and skills in the area.”

Two schools in Cricklewood got grants previously for their community projects on the environment and education, Claremont Primary for its garden kitchen providing an outside space to grow and harvest herbs, fruit and vegetables and Mapledown Primary for providing iPads for Barnet’s Secondary School for pupils with learning disabilities.

The Brent Cross fund, started in 2009, has helped 52 charities, organisations and projects so far, which have had an impact in their communities. It has dished out £180,000 to date.