An inspiring idea for Darwen youngsters (From Lancashire Telegraph)

An inspiring idea for Darwen youngsters

12:09pm Thursday 9th July 2009 in

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A £450,000 bid has been made to raise the aspirations of Darwen’s most deprived youngsters.

Darwen Aldridge Community Academy (DACA), Blackburn with Darwen Council, and the Community Voluntary Service, have submitted a bid for £450,000 over two years to the Department for Children, Schools and Families to be part of the nat-ional Inspiring Communities programme.

The scheme would focus on helping children aged 11 to 14 in deprived areas of central Darwen.

Nationally, 15 neighbourhoods will be chosen, in a bid to break the cycle of underachievement by broadening young people’s horizons and experiences – which could include volunteering programmes, youth-led projects, visits to universities, theatres and museums, and support for them to undertake work experience.

Brendan Loughran, principal of DACA, said: “We have been delighted to submit a partnership bid for Inspiring Communities with Blackburn with Darwen and the Community Voluntary Service, and we look forward to hearing the outcome in September 2009.”

It is thought the management of this project would be done by a council steering group, with the Darwen and rural neighbourhood board.

Board chairman John Sturgess said: “We fully support this bid.

"We’re looking to get behind it and if it is granted, offer guidance on what people in Darwen want.

“It is a huge amount of money and would really help.”