A £500,000 government fund aims to help community organisers mobilise local residents.

Some 27 community organisers across England - including rural areas - will benefit from the Community Organisers Mobilisation Fund.

The fund is jointly backed by the Cabinet Office and Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

All communities benefiting from the fund will be supported to use the powers available to them under the Localism Act 2011.

Community organisers will encourage local residents to use community rights, neighbourhood planning and other neighbourhood approaches to create positive change in their area.

The government says the fund will enable communities to shape the future of the places they live and work in.

In rural Cornwall, for ecample, community organiser Patrick Murphy hopes to help residents deliver community-led youth services.

To do this, he is looking to transfer a Nancherrow youth centre in West Cornwall into community ownership.

Civil society minister Rob Wilson said: "Residents across England will benefit from the support of a Community Organiser to help them shape their neighbourhoods.

"More resilient, capable communities are a cornerstone of my vision for a bigger and stronger society. I look forward to seeing positive changes in these communities.

The Company of Community Organisers Ltd is managing the initiative on behalf of the Cabinet Office and DCLG.

Local government minister Marcus Jones, Minister for Local Government said:

"This is an exciting opportunity for residents to take greater control of their local assets and planning for the future.

It supports our commitment to creating stronger and more resilient communities.

It will encourage these neighbourhoods to consider how they can influence local decision making, improve local services and help them shape the place where they live.

The Company of Community Organisers is managing the initiative on behalf of the Cabinet Office and DCLG.

Case studies and resources for people who want to get involved in their community are available at My Community.