A COUNCIL has received its first cash allocation from a £50million scheme to tackle segregation.

Blackburn with Darwen will get £343,133 for the first year of the Integrated Communities Strategy to work up schemes for larger grants in the future.

The initial award follows borough bosses agreeing four priorities for its part in the project with civil the Ministry for Communities and Local Government.

It is one of five councils in the ground-breaking project which ministers hope will be the blueprint for a national initiative to reduce division and tension between differing communities.

National aims of the strategy announced in March include encouraging schools to teach ‘British values’, boosting English language skills and encouraging women from minorities into jobs.

The local version prioritises spreading prosperity across the borough’s communities; strengthening relationships between groups; building connections between young people from diverse communities; and giving people from disadvantaged areas better access to employment and public services and buildings.

Professor Ted Cantle, who in 2009 authored a study which described Blackburn as ‘one of the most ethnically divided towns in the country’, said: "There is a lot of work but this is seed corn money to change attitudes in the borough. Things like changing school admissions policy. employment practices and housing cost nothing."

Cllr Mohammed Khan, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “I welcome the department agreeing our approach. We spent several months drafting our Social Integration Strategy.”

Harry Catherall, the council’s chief executive, said: “The department has confirmed funding of £343,133 for the first year of Blackburn with Darwen’s programme, with more to come in Year Two.

“The next steps include continuing to work with stakeholders to prepare for the implementation phase of the programme.”

Communities Minister Lord Bourne said: “I am delighted that Blackburn with Darwen Council are working with people to identify what will make the biggest difference to build stronger, more integrated communities.
“I have seen for myself the willingness of local partners to work together and look forward to following their progress.”

In January a BBC Panorama documentary ‘White Fright: Divided Britain’ claiming Blackburn was even more divided than when it filmed in the town in 2007.

The other four authorities are Bradford, Peterborough, Walsall and the London borough of Waltham Forest.