TWO projects run by a Blackburn-supported housing scheme for people aged 16 to 25 have been awarded £500 cash grants.

The projects, called ‘Foyer Finance’ and ‘Friends of the Foyer’ are run by Blackburn with Darwen Foyer, and won the awards from the national competition the ‘Money for Life Challenge’.

The projects are focused on improving money management and the teams were among 340 across the UK participating in the award-winning programme.

Sylvia Perrins, chief executive of the National Skills Academy for Financial Services said: “Money management skills are vital to our everyday lives and we are delighted that so many teams from Lancashire will take part in the Money for Life Challenge this year.

“Each team has devised a project to help others in their local community and we are excited to see them put their ideas into practice.”

“I am really looking forward to seeing how each project evolves over the next three months.”

The teams will spend the next three months rolling out their projects over the next three months and then submit them to the challenge Money for Life Challenge judges, who will choose the best teams to be presented at a national final on April 21.

National winners will be awarded £1,000 to donate to a registered charity of their choice and will be invited to represent the North of England at the UK Grand Final in London on May 28.