CRUCIAL cash could be handed to a project aiming to breathe new life into a disused bus and bring arts to people's doorsteps.

Colchester Arts Centre director Anthony Roberts purchased the old London Routemaster with the hope of converting it into a travelling place to entertain people and create a mobile sense of community.

Renovations are in the final stages and now plans are afoot to create a programme of events.

The vehicle has been named The Magic Bus and the arts centre is now one of 15 causes shortlisted in Ecclesiastical's Movement for Good awards and could scoop £50,000.

The insurer has up to £1million ready to give away and have already given out 500 donations of £1,000.

A total of ten charitable organisations will be given £50,000.

The awards are designed to help charities take innovative projects to the next level in the fields of education, skills, arts, culture and heritage, as well as citizenship or community development.

All finalists applied online and finalists were selected for the shortlist.

Now the public are being asked to vote for their favourite before the Movement for Good judging panel selects ten winning charities.

Mark Hews, group CEO of Ecclesiastical, said: “Ecclesiastical is unlike any other financial services group.

"Owned by a charity, giving is at the heart of our business.

"Each £50,000 award will fund innovative projects and good ideas that might not otherwise get financial support.

"Part of our ongoing pledge is to help charities test new ideas and take them to the next level, sometimes over several years – an area where we know funding is very limited.

"We think that this can help charities make even more of a difference.

“Our Movement for Good awards has been successful in helping 500 charities already this year and we’re thankful to everyone who nominated a cause close to their heart.

"We’re looking forward to seeing how this next financial boost will change even more lives for the better.”

The successful charities will be announced at the end of the month.

To vote visit ecclesiastical.com/movement-for-good.