The latest round of grants have been handed out by an East Lancashire council to support the essential work of organisations that benefit their local community.
Five youth groups are set to benefit from Hyndburn’s Cabinet Action Fund, which was set up in 2024 by council leader Munsif Dad to provide small cash grants to shore up those in the borough who go the extra mile for its residents.
The grants will ensure that young people can continue to benefit from taking part in community groups like the cadets or Scouts, by helping these groups with costs that may limit the work that they do.
Heritage and community action groups have also been selected to receive financial help from the fund, with thousands also going to renovation and social intervention projects across Hyndburn.
£1,000 has been awarded to Aawaz, a charity that supports South Asian women who are experiencing social isolation, while £1,500 has gone to Accrington Community Events to help the organisation expand its outdoor events with new branded gazebos.
£6,800 has gone to the Town and District Transport Trust Ltd to repaint its open-top community bus in Accrington red, with the Cabinet Action Fund also supplying Altham Parish Council with £4,200 for repairs to the Moorfield Colliery Memorial wall.
Meanwhile, the Accrington Heritage Trust is receiving a £3,996 boost to support its heritage bus scheme, which tours a 1975 Leyland Leopard bus around primary schools to teach the next generation about local history.
Councillor Munsif Dad, leader of the council, said: "Our community and heritage organisations play an essential role in preserving Hyndburn's rich history while providing opportunities for residents to come together, learn and take pride in where they live.”
But that’s not the only boost for Hyndburn’s young people.
£1,000 is going to the Accrington & District Sea Cadets to improve the safety of their building, with a new secure entrance, CCTV, and a panic alarm system being installed to safeguard their facility, which is used by a variety of community groups.
Other grants are going towards improving the experience of Hyndburn’s young people at these local groups, with Brave Church also being handed £1,000 so that it can build on the success of its Brave Youth programme, which provides a space on Friday nights for older children to play games or just have a chat.
Similarly, kids attending the 1st Oswaldtwistle Girls' Brigade are now all set to go on a ‘mystery adventure trip to Bewilderwood’ thanks to a £1,707.70 bung from the Cabinet Action Fund. This will allow the group’s girls aged four to 16 to go on an exciting day out that will help to build their confidence.
Val Mannering and Dianne Hoyle, Joint Team Leaders of 1st Oswaldtwistle, members of the Girls Brigade, said: “We are very grateful to Hyndburn Borough Council for the grant we have received.”
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She continued: “The funding will help our young people enjoy fun and friendship whilst growing in confidence, building skills and sowing the seeds of faith. They are looking forward to their surprise mystery trip which will take place on Saturday 26th September.”
The associated St Paul's Scout Group is also benefiting from the fund, which is giving them £1,200 to improve the security of their building and renovate their ageing storeroom.
Accrington Peel Park Primary School was the fifth organisation granted financial help by the action fund, with £1,000 being used to pay for an interactive screen to enhance its support for students with special educational needs or disabilities.
Any group that works with the community in Hyndburn can apply for assistance from the council fund.
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