AN ARTS group in Blackburn was celebrating today after scooping a £91,172 National Lottery handout.

Action Factory Community Arts Ltd, based in Simmons Street, was one of 16 arts organisations in the North West to get cash sums ranging from around £4,000 to over £4 million.

Action Factory will spend the money on three new vans as well as a camera, computer and craft equipment.

Project development officer Harry Henderson said: "The equipment will allow us to do more work with community groups, schools and the youth service. "It gives us the capacity to increase what we do not just in Blackburn but all around the North West. We're very pleased because it means we can offer a better service."

Action Factory's Julian Dunn added: "This award will increase the quality of our work and enhance the opportunities for young people who are experiencing the arts for the first time, particularly young people and people with disabilities."

Action Factory offers a wide range of community-based arts, from design and crafts to desktop publishing and video making. It also runs training courses and works closely with organisations such as Groundwork on environmental arts projects.

Although a non-profit making registered charity, Action Factory is a company which makes over half its money commercially, as well as receiving funds from the North West Arts Board and Lancashire County Council.

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