TWENTY-SIX new groups are to receive a £1.1m grant boost from Liverpool's Lib Dem council.

It's part of the council's package to award £4.2m in voluntary grants to 86 organisations.

Eleven groups who already receive money from the council are also getting their funding increased. Six groups are receiving the full amount they requested. Another 19 will get the same amount as last year. And 10 groups have been refused further grant aid.

Vice Chair of the voluntary sector panel, Lib Dem Councillor Flo Clucas, said: "Liverpool is one of the most generous cities in the country when it comes to funding the voluntary sector because we believe it plays a vital role in regenerating our local communities.

"We are maintaining our strong track record of support for voluntary groups in the city. This year's grants of £4.1m are an increase on the £3.97m we awarded when we began this process in 2001. We have worked hard to make sure every penny is spent wisely and reaches as many people as possible but, of course, we cannot fund every single group which applies, and some are bound to be disappointed.

"All the city's voluntary groups were invited to help us draw up the application criteria, and played an active part in the process. Our priorities have been to cut duplication, make sure voluntary groups deliver what they promise and ultimately, make sure we meet the needs of Liverpool citizens."

The Liverpool Council for Voluntary Services (LCVS) is among the big winners. For the first time, the organisation, which will support thousands of organisations who work with vulnerable people in Liverpool - including victims of violence, black and other ethnic minorities and disabled people - has received a £200,000 cash boost.

Every application has been thoroughly reviewed and has had to meet a strict criteria. The panel which assessed the hundreds of bids from voluntary organisations included representatives of the city's voluntary sector.

Vice Chair of the appeals panel, Lib Dem Councillor Richard Marbrow, said: "We are delighted to be funding so many voluntary groups which do a huge amount of important work in the city. There are some fantastic projects which will make a real difference to people's lives.

"Inevitably, there were some difficult decisions to make when considering the applications, and there are sure to be some people who are disappointed. But just because groups previously received council funding, does not automatically guarantee they will continue to meet the criteria.

"We have looked at groups that will have the most impact and make the biggest difference to communities. Every single application and appeal has been considered carefully, based on its merits - and everyone has been given the chance to put their case. If we continued to automatically fund existing groups, without reviewing the services they provide, new groups who provide more vital services would never get a look-in."

A major role for LCVS will be to provide help and advice to unsuccessful applicants. Dedicated officers at the organisation will work with these groups to identify alternative sources of funding and help with applications.

It means organisations seeking funding can now get help direct from the voluntary sector.

Alongside the cash boost for voluntary groups, the council is also awarding more than £1.8m in grants to culture organisations - funding small scale community projects and helping to build the capacity of the Culture Company's creative partners.

And the council has awarded a further £1.7m in grants to youth organisations.

In total, the city council is awarding £7.6m to voluntary, cultural and educational organisations. It is believed to be one of the largest grants distributed by any UK local authority.