Children across Oxfordshire have played a key role in deciding how £3m should be spent to support them.

More than 40 community projects have won a share of the Oxfordshire Children's Fund set up by the Government earlier this summer.

About 79 groups had bid for help and children from schools across the county helped decide how the money should be distributed.

The first round of bids is now complete and the money is to target Oxfordshire's most vulnerable children, including those at risk of offending or who exhibit anti-social behaviour, as well as children disadvantaged or excluded because of disability, behavioural problems, cultural differences, or who are isolated because they live in remote rural parts of Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire Youth Offending Team is to get the biggest share -- a £505, 000 grant over the next three years, to identify and provide children under 13 considered 'at risk of offending' with activities to steer them away from a life of crime.

The group is to get the lion's share of the money because the Government wants at least 25 per cent of the fund to be spent on crime prevention.

The scheme marks a new era in the group's work as until now it could only work with children who had already committed a crime. It means even younger children feared likely to led into a life of crime, drug taking or anti-social behaviour by their peers can be helped.

A further £50,000 is to come to the team from the Government's Street Crimes Initiative fund, specifically for schemes for Oxford children.

But the team is also set to target children living in Kidlington, south Abingdon, Banbury, Bicester, Berinsfield and Didcot, where there are higher crime rates among youths, compared to the rest of Oxfordshire.

The team's deputy manager Steve Crocker, said: "We are going to be working to prevent young people being drawn into crime. This could involve anything from group work, one to one counselling, or working with families in their homes.

"Previously youth offending teams have worked to prevent kids re-offending. Now for the first time we can work on stopping them offending in the first place, so it's an enormously positive step.

"But we do rely on schools, youth workers, social workers to identify these children. Police are also key players here. This money will fund new workers and activities.

"There is an issue about labelling kids, so it has to be done very sensitively. That's why we try to work in all cases very closely with parents. I've lost count of the amount of times a parent has thanked me or my staff for working with a young person, then said they really need help with that person's younger brother.

"At the moment we literally have to wait for them to offend before we can get involved. Now things can change."

Penny Faust, chairman of Oxfordshire Children's Fund Partnership Board, said local children were consulted before priorities were agreed and they also helped interview new staff who will manage the fund.

Ms Faust said: "I have been amazed at the diligence and shrewdness of children when given opportunities to participate. They have made an invaluable contribution.

"Although funding is limited, we hope to be able to make a real difference, over the next three years, to the lives of children at risk or in need in Oxfordshire."

The Leys Linx Community Centre is to receive £34, 000 to run drugs and domestic violence awareness training in schools in Blackbird Leys.

Oxfordshire Play Bus, based at Osney Mead Oxford, which provides activities to encourage children is to be given £62,500 to support its work.

A police-led scheme to provide adult mentors for children in Berinsfield, the U13OX10 project, is to be given £38,000.

Sounding Board, a county council-run project offering young people a chance to have their views on issues affecting them heard by decision makers including police and councillors is to get £73,000 over two years.

Cutteslowe Community Centre has won £14,000 for its work with children on the estate at risk of offending.

A £28,000 grant will go to Parasol Inclusive Play Project, based in Marston, which helps disabled children join in with mainstream activities.

OXSRAD integrated Sports Centre in Marston, which provides unique opportunities for able-bodied children to engage in sports with the disabled, is to be given £14,000 for new equipment.

The RAP Yard in Cowley Road, Oxford, has won £22,500 for a music and video project special needs children.

Lets Play Project in Banbury working with disabled children has won £25,000.

Anjali Dance Company is to spend its £15,500 on extending its work from its base in Banbury to Bicester.

John Watson Kids Club in Wheatley receives £35,000.

Oxfordshire Playing Fields Association has won £2,000 towards the development of a new inclusive playground in Sutton Courtenay.

Asylum Welcome, based in Cowley Road, Oxford, has won £12,000 for play and leisure equipment for children of asylum seeking and refugee families.

The Protective Behaviours Training Programme, which is running pilot projects to equip children with self-awareness and survival skills is to be given £8,000 to extend its work at Peers School, Littlemore and other schools.

Rose Hill Community Association has won £15,000 for an after-school and holiday play scheme.

Ark-T Centre in Oxford has won £8,550 to set up an anger management scheme for adults with learning disabilities, and £4,000 to run a cookery club.

Donnington Doorstep is to be given £15,000.

Building Links, a parenting support group project run in Rose Hill and Littlemore is to be given £30,000 to expand into Blackbird Leys.

£45,000 will go to Home-Start South Oxfordshire.

The Springboard Project working with children in the county suffering with mental health problems is to be given £10,000.

Oxfordshire Parents with Disabilities Network has won £15,000.

South Abingdon Families Together project has won £12,000 for its work with isolated, vulnerable families.

Oxfordshire Parent-Talk, a support scheme run by Oxfordshire County Council is to be given a £49,000 boost.

£24,000 will be spent on PACT a group working with victims of Domestic Violence in south Oxfordshire.

SHARE/Reading Quest has won £40,000 to help improve literacy and learning among children in Oxfordshire's care system.

Face 2 Face, a counselling service for children in West Oxfordshire and Cherwell area has won £50,000.

Oxford charity Family Links has won £50,000.

The Art Room, which supports vulnerable children get involved in creative arts has won £24,000.

Oxfordshire Community Forum has won £38,000 to extend its work to support the county's Asian community.

The Multi-Cultural Play Project in Banbury has won £37,000.

South and Vale Carers Centre has won £32, 000 to help children who look after sick or elderly relatives. North and West Carers Centre has won £32,000 also and Oxford City Carers Centre is to get £36,000.

Blackbird Leys Saturday School for Afro-Caribbean children has won £25,000.

The official launch of the Children's Fund in Oxfordshire takes place at Hill End Residential and Field Studies Centre on September 22 from 4pm.