Community groups can apply for their share of a £10,000 pot of funding available through Calne’s area board to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.

Councillors hope the funding will inspire projects reflecting on the sacrifice made by servicemen, women, and their families 100 years ago.

Groups and parish councils can apply for up £1,000 and applications for projects, which must also benefit the wider community, should be handed in by March 20.

Board chairman Coun Alan Hill said: “What we’re asking now is that people come forward with ideas for a project. It could be a piece of art, it could be a painting or even a garden, anything that people feel is a way of expressing their thoughts about this disastrous event in history.

“We’re not unique, this is something that’s happening across the county and across many parts of the world, we’re just adding a tiny piece. “I believe that projects like these can help young people especially to realise what actually happened and to understand how the world ended up in a pretty terrible place.

“The lessons from that period of history are very definitely relevant today.”

The £10,000 will come from the 2013/14 area board budget of £58,112 and the area board now has £22,028 left to spend on other community projects.

This is the second pot of funding released to fund centenary projects in Calne.

Pupils in Calne are also taking part in a £10,300 Lottery-funded project supported by the Calne Music and Arts Festival and the Calne Heritage Centre.

Pupils, from John Bentley, St Mary’s and the Springfields Academy will research the town’s wartime past and create a musical presentation based on findings.

For an application form contact community area manager Jane Vaughan on (01249) 706447 or e-mail jane.vaughan@wiltshire.gov.uk