Community groups are to be handed almost £300,000 to fight the "scar of child poverty".

The cash will be made available from April from the Government's Local Network funding scheme.

Groups will be asked to bid for a slice of the money by coming up with project ideas in one of four categories: Aspirations and experience; economic disadvantage; isolation and access; and children's voices.

Ministers are looking for projects which give children new experiences that better-off youngsters take for granted, or for initiatives which help families to improve their living standards.

They are also keen to hear about projects which benefit children who are alone or have trouble accessing services and schemes that give youngsters a way of expressing opinions.

The grants available range from £250 to £7,000 and are part of a £70 million three-year initiative.

Local community groups have received a similar amount this financial year.

Home Office minister John Denham said the funding pot recognised parts of Brighton and Hove and East Sussex remained "disadvantaged".

He said: "At the end of last year, Chancellor Gordon Brown launched a crusade against child poverty.

"Local network funding is a way of supporting local and volunteer efforts as part of the wider effort against child poverty."