VITAL lifelines look set to be thrown by County Hall to three cash-strapped projects in Burnley and Hyndburn which help crisis-hit families to cope.

Funding cuts were being faced by all three organisations, as various state and charitable trust cash streams came to an end.

But under plans being considered, the initiatives could be given more than £140,000 from the authority’s Supporting People grant.

The grant is dished out by Whitehall to county and unitary councils for schemes which provide housing support in the community.

Burnley Family Intervention Project is the largest expected beneficiary, with £49,500 earmarked for the initiative, run by the National Children’s Home.

Eighteen families, across Burnley and Padiham, who are said to behave in an anti-social manner, are given intensive counselling to turn their lives around.

But grant funding from the Housing Corporation and Department for Communities and Local Government has ended, for 2008-09, and financial backing from Whitehall’s Respect Task Force has been slashed.

The developments left a major hole in the project’s budget, which the county council cash should plug.

Meanwhile in Hyndburn two ventures, offering support to different sections of the community, should now survive in the short-term.

Hyndburn Homewise, a not-for-profit group, offers help to low-income, disabled or elderly householders to repair, improve or maintain their homes.

Single Regeneration Budget funding has been lost but £2,000 has been secured from the Sobell Foundation.

Another £23,000 from Supporting People will enable the charity to provide a handyperson for 35 hours per week and continue for another 12 months at least.

Elsewhere rehabilitation experts Hope Metro run Project Restore in the borough, offering ex-offenders the support to rebuild productive lives in the community.

The users are given advice and support about fending for themselves and help with gaining training course places or employment.

With funding from the Northern Evangelical Trust and New Deal ending last month, the annual cost of a project manager, totalling £27,365, has been pencilled in by county officials.

A similar household support scheme in Lancaster, run by the city council there, will also receive nearly £40,000.