A COMMUNITY group tackling loneliness among the vulnerable is planning a major expansion after winning a National Lottery grant.

Blackburn-based Sliding Doors won £49,700 funding in the‘People’s Projects’ competition organised with Granada TV.

The organisation’s ‘Open for All’ project, which aims to change the lives of older people and those living with disability, is one of three schemes across the North-West to share £150,000 after a public vote.

After the cheque presentation at Ewood Park’s ‘Blues Bar’, where Sliding Doors runs a thriving social group, its founder and organiser Julie Astley said: "This is great news.

“We now plan to expand our services to the lonely and vulnerable across not just Blackburn but Darwen, Ribble Valley, Hyndburn,Burnley and Pendle.

“Winning the People Project has made so many people happy.

“Until now Sliding Doors has been a small entirely voluntary-run group but we managed to support over a hundred people with disabilities and those who are lonely and isolated.

“Can you imagine what £49,700 will help us to do?

“We plan to open a ‘Hub ‘run by people with disabilities for anyone to drop in and enjoy activities such as art and crafts, bingo, and cooking.

“We will also be running a mobile afternoon tea service, bring tea, cakes and company to older people across the area supported by people with disabilities

“Plans are underway for a regular night out for older people.

“We will be delivering more social sessions for people with a disability/learning difficulty and also trips out for isolated people.

“Loneliness is awful, it’s sad, isolating and completely unnecessary.

“Our most vulnerable people often have the most to give, they just never get a chance to shine.”

The other winners were Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool’s Children’s Charity and Drop Zone Youth Projects in Barrow-in-Furness.

Dawn Austwick, Big Lottery Fund Chief Executive, said: “We are proud to be supporting this year’s winners in The People’s Projects. They are using National Lottery funding to bring people together and give them the opportunity to build their skills, make new friends and learn from one another.”