Playgroups are a vital lifeline for parents everywhere. But for some, making ends meet can be a struggle.

The staff at St Hilda's playgroup in Newcastle sometimes go without being paid because there is not enough cash.

Run by dedicated staff, the nursery's biggest problem is where the next pound is coming from.

But they continue operating because they know that what they do is essential to the families who use their services.

Because the number of children who come along can vary each week, the money coming in is never predictable.

That means it can be difficult to budget and pay the bills.

It's a familiar problem for many similar, small groups. The cash coming in never quite pays for everything and they end up having to rely on donations and charity to keep going.

But there are some sources of cash to tap into if you know where to look and how to go about it.

Extra cash

There are around 7,500 trusts and foundations in the UK which give grants to charities and community groups.

Between them they hand out �1.7bn a year. Add to this �300m or so from the National Lottery's Community Fund and another �220m from the large charities such as Oxfam, and there's around �2.2 billion worth of cash available every year.

But there is a catch.

Some of the foundations and trusts target their cash at certain types of group or ones in a particular part of the country.

So the criteria for applying and getting hold of the money can be quite strict.

Think ahead

If you're thinking of applying for some much needed cash, it's essential to target your application at the people most likely to give you the money and to apply early.

Most trusts make decision and funding every few months - getting a speedy decision may not always be possible.

If you're thinking of making an application for funding, The Association of Charitable Foundations, which represents most of the trusts in the UK, has this advice:

• Do your homework beforehand
• Prepare your application carefully
• Leave plenty of time

One place to start your search is the Association of Charitable Foundations' own website (link on the right hand side of this page). It has advice on how to apply as well as an A-Z list of trusts which have money available and who they target their money at.

You will find other useful links on the right hand side of this page - including one for The Giving Campaign, an independent, national campaign supported by the voluntary sector and the government that was established to increase the amount of money given to UK charities.