THREE groups in Essex are in the running for a share of a £2 million fund set up by NatWest – with the public now being asked to vote for their favourites.

DIAL Basildon & South Essex in Basildon, Trust Links in Westcliff-on-Sea, and Citizens Advice Chelmsford will now battle it out with 14 other shortlisted organisations across NatWest’s Midlands and East of England region.

Each are vying for grants of up to £35,000 bound for not-for-profit organisations across the UK and Ireland that help people achieve qualifications, find work or start a business They join 85 groups nationwide which have reached the final stages of the NatWest Skills and Opportunities Fund, designed to help projects that support people in disadvantaged communities to gain financial and business skills.

DIAL Basildon & South Essex’s Inclusive Advice project will enable disabled people to access accurate and appropriate advice on financial issues.

Trust Links’ Grow Your Own Business works with adults with mental health problems and other disabilities to develop their skills and experience to build confidence to set up their own businesses.

Citizens Advice Chelmsford’s aDAPt programme aims to improve the financial capability of people in Chelmsford, Essex who are experiencing bad debt or poverty, who due to circumstance be that deprivation, homelessness, disability or rural isolation require a tailored specialist debt support offer to improve their confidence and capability to manage their own finances.

Janat Hulston, Chairman of NatWest’s Midlands and East of England Regional Board, who is on the judging panel for the entries for the area, said: “We received an excellent response from organisations across the region which have created programmes to enhance financial capability skills and enterprise in their communities.

“Once again we’ve been impressed with the standard of the entries we’ve received and we look forward to being able to help even more worthy causes achieve their aims.

“It’s going to be a very difficult decision now to choose the ultimate winners of this round – and that’s where the public vote comes in. We want to know which organisations our communities feel could make a real difference with this funding. If it matters to the community then it matters to us.”

Now that the shortlist has been published, the public has until noon on May 5 to vote for their favourite project in each of seven regions across the UK and Ireland.

The results of the public vote will count as one vote alongside those from a panel of judges in each region, deciding who receives funding. Winner will be announced on June 6.