VILLAGES and rural residents are benefiting from a £1.2m community fund in Lincolnshire.

A range of rural community-owned enterprises are benefiting from West Lindsey District Council's £1.2 million Community Assets Fund.

Under four strands, eight enterprises are receiving funding with expert advice from two organisations specialising in community and social enterprise.

The organisations giving expert advice are the Community Action Network (CAN) and the Plunkett Foundation, with support from Community Lincs.

The programme supports groups or individuals across West Lindsey District who are working to develop social enterprises that benefit local communities.

They often do so by contributing to economic growth including employment or training; or by addressing social needs and supporting cohesion.

One of eight community groups that have been successful in applying for support is the community multi-use centre at Tealby.

A community business adviser has been allocated to help them develop their ideas, expand existing activities and to give assistance with their overall project vision.

Centre manager Sarah Tyson said: "We are thrilled to be a recipient of this grant and we look forward to a new future for the centre."

Andrew Croft, chairman of the fund's investment advisory panel, said he hoped more social enterprises would be helped in the West Lindsey district.

"We look forward to helping more community enterprises that trade for a social purpose who are looking for funding and business support to provide goods and services with a positive impact."

The Community Assets Fund is looking to support community halls, social enterprises, community-owned enterprises and community sports groups.

Successful applicants will be able to access a combination of loan and grant finance.

Surgery sessions will help communities develop their ideas and proposals, while local events will showcase successful examples of community enterprise..

Experts will be on hand to help groups of local residents develop community enterprises, with one-to-one adviser support to help communities work up their proposals.

As part of the fund a free "inspire and achieve" event is being held on Thursday 27 March at North Kelsey Village Hall for people interested in setting up or improving community enterprises.

For details, click here or email hannah.barrett@plunkett.co.uk.