Thousands of pounds are up for grabs as the annual Go Kids Go! campaign is launched.

Weston Mercury: Weston Mayor Cllr Mike Lyall presenting £500 to Weston Junior Rugby Club.Weston Mayor Cllr Mike Lyall presenting £500 to Weston Junior Rugby Club. (Image: Archant)

Weston Lions Club and the Mercury have once again partnered up with the town's businesses to give back to organisations and groups to benefit children.

This year will see applicants vie for a chunk of a £8,000 pot which has been pooled together thanks to sponsors pledging hundreds of pounds each.

Lion Malcolm Timmis said: "It is with great pleasure and more than a little excitement we launch the seventh season of Go Kids Go!

"This project, organised jointly with Lions club and the Weston Mercury, has raised and distributed some £70,000 since its inception.

Weston Mercury: Weston Mayor Cllr Mike Lyall presenting £250 to Hornets Junior Rugby Club.Weston Mayor Cllr Mike Lyall presenting £250 to Hornets Junior Rugby Club. (Image: Archant)

"The project was started with the aim of encouraging activity in children and young people.

"It was felt that those people were spending too long in front of screen based entertainment.

"This was leading to increasing indolence and, perhaps more importantly, social isolation.

"The latter is perhaps the more curious in these days of global social media but without the need to socially interact personally in a team environment such interaction becomes more difficult, if not impossible.

"We wanted to try to encourage a more balanced lifestyle.

"The people we ask to help us have the same outlook and around 15 to 20 businesses and other organisations have helped us raise the money."

Mercury editor Tom Wright said: "The Go Kids Go! scheme is for me one of the best initiatives the Mercury gets involved in.

"It is no secret funding cuts have made life more difficult for many community organisations in recent years, so I'd like to thank the Lions and businesses for again being very generous and helping these groups continue their brilliant work."

You can enter online here.

Alternatively, you can pick up a form from the Mercury office in Waterloo Street.

Applications must be submitted to eleanor.young@archant.co.uk or to Go Kids Go!, Weston, Worle and Somerset Mercury, 32 Waterloo Street, Weston, BS23 1LW by 9am on July 17.

Judges will convene to make their decision on July 17 ahead of the cheques being presented at the Lions' Real Ale Festival on July 27.