How would you spend £10,000? That is the question a building society is asking charities in Essex.

The Saffron Walden Herts & Essex Building Society, is pledging to give three charities located within its catchment area up to £10,000 each to spend this year.

But it wants organisations that are interested in the money to apply for the funds - explaining how they will spend the cash and who or what it will benefit.

The decision to donate up to £30,000 to three organisations was made after the Saffron Walden Herts & Essex Building Society carried out a survey of its membership.

The results showed the vast majority of members supported a charitable donation with most people favouring a local as opposed to a national organisation.

Chief executive of the Saffron Walden Herts and Essex Building Society, John Whittaker, said: "We pride ourselves on being a mutual society with a membership that works together to benefit our community.

"As a result we want to select three local charities which operate for the benefit of people living within the region."

To be eligible for the donation the organisation must be a registered charity and be specifically active in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Norfolk, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, North and East London or Essex.

Anyone interested in applying should call Melanie Wright on 01353 669939.

All applicants will be sent a form which they should fill in and return by the end of May.

The Saffron Walden Herts & Essex Building Society will then decide which three organisations to support and notify them of their success.

John Whittaker added: "We hope as many charities from the Saffron Walden area as possible apply. We believe this is a fabulous opportunity which could make a real difference to the lives of many people and I look forward to announcing the recipients."

Published Friday May 16, 2003