TODAY, the Bolton Evening News and Combined Insurance are getting together to give a cash helping hand to local groups and organisations.

In fact, if you have a project that will help the local community we can help you to Make It Happen!

In a special commuunity awards scheme, we have got £10,000 to GIVE AWAY to groups around the Bolton area who are making a real contribution to local life.

It could be a youth group which needs cash to take them on a special outing.

It might be a local bowling club badly in need of money to buy new equipment, or a residents group who clean up their local area to improve it but cannot afford tools and materials.

If your group has a project which needs money, Make It Happen may be able to help you. Your group does not necessarily have to be a registered charity - just be able to prove that it helping the community to be eligible.

All you have to do is to write to us with the details of your group - who it caters for, what you do, and what you need money for. To aid the judging panel, tell us about a couple of your projects which need money - one that might cost £100, for example, and another that might cost £1,000.

In the Bolton Evening News during October, we will feature as many as possible of the groups that apply, highlighting the work they do.

Then the judges will decide on where the money goes, and in November, there will be a special presentation night for the lucky organisations.

To apply, write to: MAKE IT HAPPEN, Community Awards, Angela Kelly, Features Dept, Bolton Evening News, Churchgate, Bolton BL1 1DE or email Drop a line...akelly@boltoneveningnews.co.uk.