Cash up for grabs for worthy causes

This is your chance to make a real difference to the lives of people in your community.

Maybe you'd like to help a struggling charity.

Maybe you know a worthy individual whose life could be improved by a little extra cash. Or maybe you'd just like to clean up a facility in your neighbourhood, like a playground or community hall.

The possibilities are endless.

We have teamed up with Kingston-Upon-Hull based company Combined Insurance to launch these exciting awards in which a panel of judges will allocate shares of the cash to individuals, groups and charities.

Clive Robinson, pictured right, managing director of Combined Insurance, which has been involved in similar award schemes across the UK, said: "Combined Insurance is always getting requests for sponsorship from various community groups, but it is so difficult to decide which is the most deserving

"By running this programme we believe we can bring funding to grass-roots level within a community and find the most meaningful way of spending our money.

"The campaign allows us to demonstrate our belief that if you give people an opportunity, no matter how small, it can make a real difference.

"Throughout the competition I believe that we will see examples of the fantastic work that people are doing and who, with a little help, can do a great deal more. This is a real opportunity to make it happen.

"We're delighted that the awards will have such an immediate impact on the local community in the Southampton area.

"We're looking forward to seeing the winners' dreams being realised in the coming months."

Anyone will be able to enter; you don't have to be part of a registered charity, you just need a great idea that will improve lives in Hampshire. Big or small, all requests will be judged on their merits.

To find out how you can Make it Happen, don't miss details and your application form in tomorrow's Daily Echo.