GOOD causes in Blackbird Leys will tonight bid for more than £12,000 in grant money.

The Blackbird Leys Parish gives out grants twice a year and tonight will decide between local reading groups, charities and theatre productions.

And council members said they believed the influx of grant requests was simply a sign of the times.

Chairman Gordon Roper, pictured, right, said: “Adding the total of all the requests we have received, the number runs into thousands.

“It’s because the council and government have made cutbacks to funding over the past few years and so people are coming to us.

“But we obviously have to be careful, we can’t spend all our money and then find we have nothing to spend if something worthy comes in later in the year.”

The requests include £3,250 for community newspaper The Leys News and £1,100 for a production of Joseph being developed by the Church of the Holy Family.

The Blackbird Leys Neighbourhood Support Scheme has requested £5,000, while £2,500 is needed for the Dovecote Voluntary Parent Committee.

The council also gives money to the Agnes Smith Advice Centre and will consider providing £750 for Assisted Reading for Children in Oxfordshire.

Mr Roper said: “How much we give away each time depends to vary between £3,000 and £12,000 or £13,000.

“I think everyone is just having to tighten their belts at the moment and that means us too.

“But we will sit and discuss each cause in detail and make sure people who deserve money get what they need.”

The council will also tonight talk about improvement schemes on the estate, including a possible revamp of the Blackbird Leys Park.

Members of the public are welcome to come along to watch and have their say.

The meeting runs from 7pm in the Jack Argent Room at the Blackbird Leys Community Centre.