Dozens of charities in the greater Norwich area, including a children's centre in Mile Cross, are looking for the public's help to win �6,000 in a nationwide competition.

Action for Children's Catton Grove, Fiddlewood and Mile Cross children's centre in Hunter Road, which helps support families with children under five, is one of about 40 charities up for the prize.

The East Anglian Air Ambulance is also calling on the people of East Anglia to cast a vote which they say could help save a life.

The grant is being offered by the NatWest Community Force initiative, which works with communities to support the people, projects and charities making a real difference where they live.

Action for Children offers a variety of free vital services to families including an early years nursery, play and family support, speech and language therapy and parents' support groups.

Kate Parkin, the centre's project manager, said: 'The area where we are based is a deprived inner city council estate in which many of the families we support don't have the opportunity to explore and appreciate the stunning Norfolk countryside.

'The �6,000 would enable us to take part in the Forest Schools programme and provide our children with educational trips where they are given the freedom to discover the outdoors and learn how to care for the environment, the community and themselves.'

Meanwhile, the air ambulance is bidding to win the prize in order to kit out new doctors and paramedics who work on the helicopter and need specialist clothing in order to fly with the charity.

Steve Whitby, chief operating officer, said: 'It's not just the running of a helicopter which costs the charity money. To kit out a doctor in order for them to fly with us we need to spend around �1,500.

'To operate on the helicopter they each need a high-visibility, fire-retardant flying suit as well as boots and other fire-resistant clothing, and that all costs money.

'Winning this Natwest Community Force initiative would mean that we can kit out four new doctors when they begin and we can use the money we raise from the general public to keep the helicopter running.'

Each person can vote up to three times in any area but only once for each project and voting closes on Sunday, October 23.

To vote visit visit http://communityforce.natwest.com

Is your charity up for the grant? Tell us why you think it deserves to win. Call David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk