A Blackburn charity which has been working to support socially disadvantaged communities has been awarded a £150,000 grant.

IMO has secured a share of £600,000 from Impetus to host educational and employment within the ethnic minority communities across Blackburn and Darwen.

Babbasa, Generation UK and Sister System will also be awarded the grants to help them facilitate employment sessions.

Impetus says their research shows that 'young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are twice as likely as their better-off peers to be out of education, employment or training' . Data also showed that ethnic minority young people are disproportionately impacted by unemployment.

These new investments, said Impetus aims to help decrease the employment gap faced by young people from ethnic minority, disadvantaged backgrounds and ‘promote systemic change towards a more racially equitable society’.

Alongside financial grants, all of the charity partners will receive co-investment opportunities, access to the Impetus pro bono network and the support from the Investment team.

CEO of the IMO Charity, Mohammed Tayyab Sidat MBE said: “Our partnership with Impetus will enable us to provide support for young residents of Blackburn to find work or training, which is essential to ensure that future generations are given opportunities to learn and earn, and build successful lives.”

Sebastien Ergas, Portfolio Director at Impetus added: “We’re excited to start working with these organisations. All four bring real understanding, commitment and empathy working with this demographic - we will work shoulder-to-shoulder with them, helping them become stronger organisations that can transform the lives of more young people.

IMO Charity operates in Blackburn with Darwen and was founded by volunteers in 2006. From its base at Eanam it currently delivers a wide range of programmes with young people, predominantly in schools and ethnic communities.

Impetus will support IMO to use their existing expertise, reach and networks to develop and deliver a new employment-focused programme.

The Impetus Trust was founded in 2002 by Stephen Dawson and Nat Sloane.