A PROJECT to boost the confidence of South Asian women has received £264,000.

The money awarded to Accrington-based Aawaz has come from the Big Lottery Fund and is set to benefit 300 women living in Hyndburn.

The funding is part of a £4.6million pot and is also set to support other charities, community groups and schools in East Lancashire.

Aawaz will use the funds to run the Nai Zindagi - meaning New Life in Urdu - project. Sessions will take place on Monday to Thursday and will focus on English language, confidence building, arts and crafts, yoga and cooking.

In its application Aawaz said: “Women will be introduced to mainstream organisations for volunteering placements and opportunities that can enhance and broaden their scope for future employment. They will develop the confidence to better integrate into the community.”

Elsewhere Accrington-based Broadfield Specialist School was awarded £10,000 to deliver activities to pupils and the wider community.

In Bacup, St Mary’s RC Primary School was given £9,930 to install outdoor climbing equipment and playground games in the school grounds.

In Blackburn, Personalising Freedom CIC has received £10,000 to run a peer support network, Friends of Holy Trinity was awarded £8,380 to run a programme of activities including workshops, markets and music events for the local community, and Intack Primary School was awarded £9,995to install play equipment.

Awards for All 4 The Community CIC was awarded £9,875, Little Harwood Community Centre Ltd received £9,980 and Great Harwood St John’s CE Primary School got £9,980.

Burnley Wood Community Centre was awarded £9,950 to run healthy eating workshops, Friends of Towneley Park was granted £10,000 for an adventure play area and Clitheroe’s St James CE Primary School was given £9,995 for an outdoor shelter.

Turncroft Nursery School in Darwen was granted £8,360 to create an outdoor sensory space

Transforming Communities in Pendle received £8,870 to set up a community luncheon club, Colne Open Door Centre Limited was given £10,000 to refurbish an unused cellar and Bodies in Motion (Pendle) Ltd in Nelson was awarded £10,000.

Haslingden-based REAL got £9,980 and James-the-Less RC Primary School, Rawtenstall, received £9,900 for a reflection garden.