Dozens of youth groups have received a share of �250,000 after Norfolk County Council set up a one-off fund to support projects for young people.

The county council, which is no longer directly providing youth services as part of cost-cutting measures, set up the Youth Transition Fund last September to make cash available to groups.

The last awards have now been made, with nine projects sharing �57,500 of the �250,000 pot.

Among Norwich groups to benefit were the Norfolk Deaf Youth Club, Bowthorpe Youth and Community Management Association and the Norfolk and Norwich Scope Association.

Decisions were made by a grants panel made up of representatives from Norfolk County Council, Norfolk police and district councils.

Meanwhile, a separate �150,000 fund, to support projects develop new ways of working with young people has also just made its third round of awards - with �50,000 still to bid for.

The fund, administered by the Norfolk Community Foundation, has already reached hundreds of Norfolk youngsters.

The latest Youth Innovation Fund awards include support for a number of Norwich-based groups including:

• Culture Works East - granted �5,000 to develop a young arts peer leader programme.

• Kings Centre Community Initiative - awarded �5,000 to pilot a new post to increase engagement with young people in the Mile Cross area of Norwich.

• The Garage Trust - granted �5,000 to launch a consultation project that will shape the development and delivery of their youth services.

Tom Garrod, deputy cabinet member for vulnerable children and the voluntary sector at Norfolk County Council, said: 'We are getting considerable interest both locally and nationally in our new model of youth and community work and we are excited that it is now beginning to take shape.'