Charity groups and voluntary organisations are being invited to apply for a share of £2,000 from the Stroud and Swindon building society.

The building society, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, has teamed up with the Evening Advertiser to launch community grants 2000, for Swin-don.

The £2,000 can be split between a number of groups, or projects, which are working to benefit the local area.

The groups which are awarded grants will be presented with the money on December 12.

The awards were first started in Swindon five years ago, when the building society decided it wanted to make money available for small local groups.

Jill Tebb, community manger for the building society, said: "The idea behind the community awards is that we try to offer money to local groups and charities, rather than the national ones, because the big charities can apply for large national grants and awards.

"This means the smaller groups in a community can often miss out.

"So by offering the money, it allows them a chance to achieve the things they want to achieve to help people in the local area."

In the past the community awards have helped local groups from all over Swindon, from pre-school groups and clubs for disabled children to old people's groups and stroke victims.

To apply for a community grant this year, fill in the application form, left, and send it to the Even-ing Advertiser, 100 Victoria Road, Swindon, SN1 3BE, by November 30.