Child and youth projects among beneficiaries of £21m funding ?

??The funding pot of £21.6m comes from the Big Lottery Funds Awards for All programme, which provides grants of £300 to £10,000, and the Reaching Communities programme, which awards grants of £10,000 and above. ??

Service Six in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, has been handed more than £400,000. It will use the funding to help young people who are involved in, or at risk of internet child sexual abuse and exploitation.
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The TARGET project will offer one-to-one guidance and group support to young people, and provide mentoring, tutoring and training to develop skills and draw out interests so that young people can volunteer in sections they are interested in.

Age Concern Birmingham has also been awarded more than £177,000 to engage with young people aged 11 to 25 and older people aged 50 and over. ?

The Let's get Hawkesley Flying project will bring both groups together to breakdown barriers to improve the community by creating a local "hub".

??Community-based and community-led activities will also be developed to increase social inclusion and reduce fear of anti-social behaviour and levels of crime.??

James Harcourt, deputy director of responsive programmes at the Big Lottery Fund, said: "It's great to see so many projects across the country bringing a positive change to communities.??

"They are giving people the opportunity to overcome barriers, learn new skills and improve their lives for the future."

Home-Start Medway Limited in Medway, Kent, has also been awarded nearly £150,000 to provide support, advice and guidance to families with financial concerns. ?

The Financial Fitness Champions project will also work from children's centres and community groups to deliver workshops and sessions with a particular debt focus, with families assisted through their learning.

Smaller amounts of funding were also given to various educational institutions and voluntary and community organisations that help children and young people including Redruth-based 4Elementz CIC, North Devon Homes Limited, and In The Mix Youth Project in Taunton.