A CHARITY linked with a major tea brand has been brought back to East Lancashire to contribute to good causes.

The son of Arthur Brooke, who founded Brooke Bond in the 1880s, set up the David Brooke charity 15 years ago in honour of his father to help disadvantaged children and young people.

The charity, which has moved back to Great Harwood from Reading, is now looking to donate to local causes throughout East Lancashire.

The company, which was established in the 1880s, had factories in Great Harwood, Burnley and Manchester and was administered from Eaves Hall near Clitheroe during the Second World War.

At its peak, the factory in Great Harwood employed more than 700 workers, and was taken over by Unilever in 1984.

The company, which was famous for making family-favourites including Oxo Cubes and PG Tips, decided to close it’s Hartley Street factory in 1992 with a loss of around 350 jobs.

The factory in Burnley was closed in 1970.

The charity recently announced it had given a £3,000 grant to Child Action North West’s new pilot scheme to help divert young adults from a life of crime.

Funds are still being raised for the scheme and organisers hope to be up and running in the next few months.

David Brooke’s son Nigel, who now runs the charity, said: “The charity hasn’t been involved in East Lancashire at all for many years but I moved it back to the area last year.

“I thought that it was important that the brand had a presence here and was involved in good works.

“It’s focused on helping disadvantaged children and young adults and that’s what this new pilot scheme is all about.

“It’s important to get in there early and try and stop young adults going down the wrong path. I hope this scheme will make a huge impact on those young adults who need help and support.”

The money will be used to fund the pilot project which will be based on the templates already being delivered by the Youth Justice Team and the employment and training scheme, Resolve 180, at Child Action North West.

Youth Justice Manager Faith Marriott said: “This funding will allow us to address the reasons why young men and women offend, reduce the risk of them reoffending and, importantly, use reparative and restorative justice to ensure they understand the impact crime has on victims and communities.”