MORE than £100,000 in Lottery grants have been given to East Lancashire community groups and schemes in the latest round of Awards for All.

From promoting South African music in Blackburn to suppporting a junior cheerleading squad in Hyndburn, 15 projects have benefited from the grants.

Music and Arts Movement Blackburn has been awarded £4,600 to run twice-weekly sessions in South Asian classical music.

Chairman Sadiq Patel said: "We are open to anyone who comes through the door and we've already had a lot of inquiries from people from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds. In particular, we're hoping to attract some of the kids to come in off the streets and get involved."

Other groups to benefit in this round of awards include Blackburn with Darwen Education Development Trust, awarded £5,000 extend its out-of-school drama club for looked after children, Audley Children's Centre which will spend the £9,450 on working with other children's centres to offer a programme of new activities, and Norden High School and Sports College in Rishton, which will spend the maximum grant of £10,000 to create an outdoor learning and gardening environment.

Hyndburn's New Era Cheerleaders's £5,588 grant will be used to form a junior squad and develop a stunts and tumbling section.

In the Ribble Valley, £10,000 has been awarded to the Aighton, Bailey and Chaigley War Memorial Hall to upgrade the heating of the village hall, and an £800 grant to Ribchester Art Club will be used to produce a calendar of local scenes by members.

Michelle McNamee, from the Big Lottery Fund said: "This round of Awards for All grants continues to give help to a wide range of organisations for small-scale community projects.

"These projects, whether they are lifeline activities for people with disabilities, arts and music sessions bringing communities together or historical learning projects, continue to provide services and activities that improve the lives of disadvantaged people throughout our region."