PARENTS and children in Hyndburn will soon benefit from a multi-million pound package aimed at improving their lives.

Sure Start, an organisation which helps pre-school children and their families, will open its new headquarters, in Buckingham Grove, Church, on Friday.

The HQ is the first piece in a £3million investment that will also see the construction of five outreach centres in the next 12 months.

The centres will be built in priority neighbourhoods throughout the borough -- First Steps in Princess Street, West Accrington; an information shop, in Whalley Road, Accrington town centre; in Christ Church to serve Barnfield; in St Peter's Church, Richmond Street, Accrington, for Scaitcliffe; and in an annex of the Spinning Jenny pub, Rimington Avenue, Accrington, for Fern Gore.

Each centre will deliver co-ordinated services including pre-school education, health advice and family support. The programme is funded by the government's Sure Start unit, Hyndburn's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, the European Regional Development Fund and Single Regeneration Budget.

The news was given at an open day in Accrington's Globe Centre, where families were invited to look at the plans, encouraged to suggest names for the various buildings and indicate ideas and needs for future services.

Canese Riaz, 36, of Tremellen Street, Accrington, has five children and works with AAWAZ, a group that helps Asian women and mothers access services, and Sure Start.

She said: "Sure Start is great because it is helping women and families with the initial stages of child birth right through to school.

"It can really help and make a difference to their lives."

Sure Start Hyndburn Programme Manager Ann-Marie Foster said: "Sure Start Hyndburn have worked with parents, carers, the community, voluntary, private and public sector partners, to develop an exciting and ambitious capital programme.

"Bringing together, a number of funding initiatives and partners, has given Sure Start Hyndburn the potential to really make a difference to children and families".

Nigel Rix, chairman of Sure Start, said: "Residents are excited about the opportunity to share in improved childcare and family support services within attractive, accessible buildings.

"We look forward to making each of these buildings operational so that we can truly build our children's future together."

Coun Jim Dickinson said: "It is not just about buildings. It is the extent of the commitment of the people here today who translate these facilities into action."

Contact Sure Start on 01254 387757.