CHARITY money is up for grabs in Comet country.

NatWest has opened the second phase of its community fund and is asking residents to decide how �5,000 will be shared by three local good causes.

Garden House Hospice in Letchworth GC, Herts Young Homeless Group and Stevenage CAB waiting area have been shortlisted and a public vote will decide which organisation receives the top donation of �3,000. The remaining two projects will receive �1,000 each.

The public can vote by visiting their local NatWest branch or online at www.natwest.com/communityfund

Voting has now opened and closes on November 26.

The �5,000 fund was launched in August to support charities and good causes in communities served by NatWest branches locally.

A panel comprising of representatives from the local community reviewed the original applications and shortlisted the three charities to benefit from the fund.

Nationally, 380 individual funds were created and over 1,100 local organisations will receive a donation. The funds form a key part of the recently launched NatWest customer charter, which sets out what customers can expect from the bank and includes a commitment to support local communities served by the bank.

Luke Renker, senior bank manager at NatWest, said: “The community fund has really captured the imagination of the public and I have been overwhelmed by the response so far.

“It was always going to be difficult to choose just three beneficiaries from the many good causes put forward, and it was great to have local people help make that decision. We have three very worthy winners, all of whom will benefit. Now we need the public to decide how the �5,000 is allocated.”