PLANS are underway to boost volunteering across Lancashire after a £2million funding grant.

The public and voluntary sector programme is being led by Blackburn with Darwen Council and aims to provide those furthest from the labour market with meaningful volunteering opportunities.

The scheme aims to build personal resilience to give individuals long term solutions to worklessness and cut down on costly interventions from agencies.

European funding of £1.2million was secured along with £800,000 in match funding from partners including Lancashire County Council, the police, Blackpool Council and One Lancashire.

Half of the delivery will take place in Blackburn with Darwen with the council contributing nearly £300,000.

It is expected to be delivered this year until December 2019.

Meanwhile the Police Innovation Fund is also supporting vulnerable people by offering public sector volunteer opportunities as part of the Lancashire Volunteer Partnership.

There are currently more than 2,000 volunteers across Lancashire helping in adult social care, children’s centres and neighbourhood services with the service set to be rolled out across Blackburn with Darwen.

A campaign to recruit new volunteers in adult social care will be launched in September 2017, according to Cllr Arshid Mahmood, the council’s executive member for neighbourhoods and prevention.