WIGAN Council is aiming to improve the lives of children and their families in Shakerley and Tyldesley by offering grants to organise summertime fun. GRANTS are being offered to children and their families in Shakerley and Tyldesley to organise summertime fun and help improve their lives.

The proposal, from Wigan Council's Sure Start initiative, is aiming to bring the communities closer together.

A small-activities award providing £300 will be available for groups organising a one-off activity, a series of small events or enhancing an existing activity, while a family fun day grant will provide £1,500 for those willing to set up such an event.

The aim, apart from fun and community unity, is to promote Sure Start by asking parents and children how they would like the project to make a difference to their lives.

Applications will be considered by a group working with an officer of the Early Years and Childcare team, and the first round should be in by June 18. Requests for a later round should arrive by July 16.

Early Years and Childcare co-ordinator Dominique Wright said: "We want local groups to help us make a difference to children and their families. Helping to promote Sure Start will do just that.

"The basic aims of the initiative are to use the £3 million that it will bring to the district to improve children's social and emotional development, their health and their ability to learn by strengthening their families and communities. This will give them the surest possible start in life.

"Nobody is imposing ideas on the community. We need to find out how parents and carers think that services for small children and their families can best be improved."

For an application form, ring 01942 206205.