MEMBERS of the art therapy committee at Pendleside Hospice, Reedley, are celebrating after receiving a grant of £2,200 from the National Lottery Awards for All programme.

The money will allow local artists and craftspeople to help get patients with life-threatening illnesses involved in diversional therapy.

The hospice will be working closely with Brierfield Arts and Cultural Project, funded through Pendle Partnership, and the East Lancs into Employment scheme to provide local artists and craftspeople with the opportunity to work alongside hospice staff and volunteers.

Press officer Audrey Swales said the hospice project was four-fold.

It aims to increase and develop the talents of hospice volunteers, to support local artists, to encourage people to become involved in craft activities and to improve the quality of life for patients, their families and carers.

She said: "It is envisaged that about 12 sessions will take place involving crafts such as clay modelling, jewellery and papermaking, fabric painting, collage work and tile mosaics."

Audrey added: "The outcome will be to help volunteers and staff to work with patients, their carers, their family and friends in a hospice setting and in their own homes to provide an opportunity to enrich the quality of their lives using crafts as a diversional therapy."

Hospice Care for Burnley and Pendle, based at Pendleside Hospice, provides care for local people suffering from cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.