Charity and community projects have been urged not to miss out on their slice of £4m worth of funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Grants ranging from £500 and £20,000 are up for grabs by local programmes that provide support to members of the community in a range of ways.

Applications will be open until August 28 with the funding being released across the country using money raised by the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Last year over 400 groups were given money to help fund community projects and this year applications have been split into three categories.

Grass roots projects in areas such as sports and arts can apply for the Postcode Community Trust, and a special Postcode Local Trust is focussing applications from projects centred around improving wildlife and green areas.

Clara Govier, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “Between the three Trusts, a very wide range of causes are supported, so I’d urge groups to have a look at the websites to see where their project fits – no matter how big or small – and get applying.”

Work to protect human rights and prevent poverty can also receive funding from the People’s Postcode Trust which help projects caring for vulnerable people in society.

The lottery has raised £221.2m which has been divided by 3,000 groups.