Three new youth projects are set to get off the ground in Norwich next year after being awarded thousands of pounds in funding.

The city schemes are among eight across the county given grants as part of Norfolk County Council's efforts to ease the impact the cutting of youth services will have on youngsters.

The Youth Innovation Fund has so far given �35,000 from a total pot worth �150,000 to organisations planning to set up new projects.

Among the recipients is Thalia Theatre Company, based on Magdalen Street, which plans to use its grant of �5,000 to launch an after-school group for young people aged 13 to 25.

Run by artistic director Molly Rose-Hutchinson, Thalia currently runs services for young disabled adults. She said the new evening group would see young people of all abilities working together at the charity's new premises at St Saviours Church in the evenings.

She added: 'We have just moved in here. It's a proper performance space – really creative and inspiring.'

East Norwich Youth Project will use its share of the money to develop a programme for girls and young women to promote self-confidence while Mancroft Advice Project, in Norwich, will create Youth Co, where youth workers will be matched with smaller groups that cannot afford to fund regular a youth worker.

The Benjamin Foundation, Creative Arts East, Hub Community Project in Wymondham, North Breckland Youth For Christ, and North Lynn Discovery will also set up new projects.

A further �42,000 has been handed out by the council's Youth Transition Fund to help existing projects struggling in the tough economic climate.