Kent and Essex are the latest county councils to promise grants from their Big Society Funds to boost local social businesses and projects, worth £5m and £700,000 respectively.

Kent is making an investment into job creation, specifically to combat youth unemployment. The council aims to create at least 660 jobs by putting the money into apprenticeships and social enterprises.

The county’s latest figures (for February) show that unemployment in Kent has increased by 4.1 percent, compared to the 2.3 per cent national average, and that five of its local authorities have an unemployment rate higher than the national average. Young people (18-24 year olds) make up the biggest proportion (30.5 per cent).

Meanwhile, 93 groups across Essex will receive a share of a £692,485 total. The grants will be spread amongst town and parish councils as well as community and voluntary groups. Projects include the renovation of a skate park, children’s play equipment, extending a scout hut, refurbishing a community centre, building a new village hall and a cricket pavilion and supplying water to allotments.

Essex has also announced that its 2012/13 Big Society Fund is now open. Groups, individuals and organisations who can demonstrate their project meets a local need can visit the county council website and complete an Expression of Interest form.

"I’d encourage anyone who thinks they have a worthwhile project which requires funding to register their interest and see if they can get vital funding to support community-led projects,” said Essex County councillor John Jowers, cabinet member for localism.

Prime Minister David Cameron formally launched Big Society Capital last week.