ALMOST £10,000 has been awarded to a disability support group, Spring into Action, to help improve its services.

The funding was provided by the Big Lottery to train people with learning disabilities and train sports coaches to help make their sessions more inclusive.

Lucy Hamlin, director of the Accrington-based group, said: "We currently run an inclusive sports club and we have found that we are unable to confidently signpost our members onto mainstream club sport, or physical activity sessions.

"This is because either, people with learning disabilities tell us that they are not sure if they will be welcomed, or that they are not sure if staff will work them, but also, coaches tell us they lack confidence in working with people with learning disabilities because often, they just haven’t had the opportunity to.

"We are developing the course with the volunteer trainers; they have the experience of having a learning disability and can provide real life stories to back up the course content."