BBC Children in Need has donated almost £30,000 in funding to an East Lancashire organisation which helps disadvantaged children.

Earlier this month, the charity announced that £29,300 is to be given to Home-Start Blackburn and Darwen, to help them deliver vital services to young children living in marginalised communities.

Manager at Home-Start Blackburn and Darwen, Amanda Barrass, said: “We’re so pleased to hear that we’ve been awarded with this new funding which will enable us to support some of the most vulnerable children in our community for the next three years.

“In the current circumstances we have been delivering our sessions via Zoom which is a new experience for us but is working well and enabling us to continue to reach those children who need it most.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

The new funding award - made possible following BBC Children in Need’s 2019 Appeal in November - will support the delivery of vital services to young people in the area and means that the charity now has more than £803,000 invested across Blackburn with Darwen.

The money, which is being spread over a three year period, will contribute to the cost of delivering active and creative play sessions for pre-school children who are living in marginalised communities in the area.

The play sessions help to integrate the children, encourage them to make friends, develop their skills and build their confidence and self-esteem before the transition into primary school.

Elizabeth Myers, regional head of the north and south of England at BBC Children in Need said: “We’re delighted to have awarded Home-Start Blackburn and Darwen with this funding, which demonstrates how our grants make a positive difference to children and young people’s lives.”

In addition to these grants, BBC Children in Need has also recently launched two dedicated Covid-19 response programmes to support charities and organisations across the UK who are providing essential help to children and young people in urgent need of support.

Details on both funding programmes, and how to apply, can be found on BBC Children in Need’s website.

Across Blackburn with Darwen, Children in Need is currently funding 14 projects to a value of more than £803,000.