ISLANDERS are being offered the chance to vote on how £10,000 of council cash should be spend on Canvey.

The poll, to be conducted at the Knightswick Shopping Centre later this month, will ask shoppers which of three voluntary projects should get Essex County Council funding.

Shoppers will be given a counter, to put in one of three jars, representing the three projects.

The vote is being organised by Castle Point Association of Voluntary Services to raise awareness of funding available for community projects.

It is the brainchild of Michaela White, from the voluntary services group. She said: “It fits in with the Big Society and the idea local people should make decisions about their services. This is a trial and if it goes well, we hope to have more votes in the future.”

Voluntary services in south Essex currently get less funding than those in the north of the county, and the grant is aimed at helping redress the balance. Mrs White added: “We are finding voluntary groups in the north of the county are getting all the cash because they know how to apply for it.

“We want to raise awareness of the money available for such schemes.”

The vote will be held on Saturday, June 25, between 9.30am and 3pm.