MORE than £400,000 of Government cash is up for grabs by youth groups in Derby.

For a fifth year, Derby's youth panel is making the Youth Opportunity Fund available for innovative ideas for projects and activities.

The aim is to involve young people, especially the disadvantaged, by providing more places to go and things to do.

The youth panel meets every six weeks to decide how the money will be spent.

A recent grant of £2,500 to the Midland Canoe Club in Darley Abbey will set up a regular club for young people to get into paddle sports.

Another recipient was Safe and Sound, an organisation specialising in safeguarding children against sexual exploitation, which received £6,000 for refurbishments.

Councillor Les Allen, city council cabinet member for children and young people, said: "We are delighted to be able to offer such a large amount of money yet again.

"Empowering young people in this way puts them in control of creating and running their own activities."

Youth panel member Joe O'Reilly, 15, said: "Helping to decide who should get grants has enabled me to learn new skills but, most importantly, give other disadvantaged young people something to do, somewhere to go and someone to talk to."

Application forms can be downloaded from the city councils website www.derby.gov.uk.