​Partnerships of charities and community groups are being urged to apply for a grant of up to £1 million to finance their ultimate project

Charities and community groups in Scotland with a dream idea are being encouraged to apply for a grant of up to £1 million from the People's Postcode Lottery.

The lottery’s latest Dream Fund has put £2.5m up for grabs and will award grants of between £500,000 and £1m to partnerships looking to finance their ultimate project.

Funding from the scheme, now in its seventh year, will be offered over two years from 2017 and is aimed at helping those fulfil an idea they have always wanted to deliver but never had the opportunity to bring to life.

Applications have to consist of at least two organisations, one of which has to be a charity with income of more than two times the amount applied for.

It's such a straight forward process and it could really mean that your dreams become a reality

Together they must be looking to fund a project that fits within one or more of the Postcode Lottery Trust’s purposes which includes early child development; helping refugees in our community; conserving our marine environment; reconnecting with the natural world; and engaging people with arts culture and heritage.

Clara Govier, head of charities at People's Postcode Lottery, urged organisations to apply saying 21 projects have benefitted from over £4.8m to date.

"With a massive £2.5m now available for charities I am proud to launch Dream Fund 2017,” she said.

“Our players continue to fund the delivery of dream projects with their phenomenal support and we are thrilled that this funding round will now see over £7m awarded to good causes since the launch of Dream Fund seven years ago."

Previous recipients of the Dream Fund include Glasgow based Play on Pedals which won the Dream Fund in 2014.

A partnership between We Are Cycling UK, Cycling Scotland, The Bike Station and Play Scotland it gives pre-school children the opportunity to learn to ride a bike before they start school.

Polly Jarman, development officer at Play on Pedals, said: "Play on Pedals is only possible thanks to the Dream Fund and players of People's Postcode Lottery.

“For any charity thinking about applying this year I would actively encourage you to do so. It's such a straight forward process and it could really mean that your dreams become a reality."

Applications for the Dream Fund are open on the Postcode Dream Trust website until 15 September, with winners being announced in January 2017.