A NEW group aiming to provide recreation activities for older and disabled people in the ethnic community in Accrington has received a boost from the Awards for All programme funded by the National Lottery.

The Apna Ghar development service for the elderly, Accrington, has received £4,260 to help start up a healthy lifestyle group.

It is of 10 groups across East Lancashire including Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Ribble Valley and Chorley to receive grants ranging between £3,000 and £5,000.

The grant to Apna Ghar will pay for volunteer expenses, trainer fees, venue hire, equipment and publicity.

The programme will provide healthy lifestyle and educational activities, including cookery, arts, language and basic sports sessions offering older people, including those with disabilities, the opportunity to build confidence and learn new skills.

The Freeflow women's counselling service based at the Resource Centre in Yorkshire Street, Burnley, benefit by a grant of £5,000 to provide more trained volunteers.

Ightenhill Methodist Church, Burnley, also gets £5,000 towards providing disabled access to the community hall which is undergoing improvements.

Herd House Riding for the Disabled Group which provides horse riding facilities for the disabled in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, is also to receive £5,000. The grant will go towards the provision of extended mounting access for riders and ramp for wheelchair access.

Another £5,000 will go to the Brilliant F11 Photographic Group Chorley. The new group is planning to create a photographic record of the industrial heritage of the locality. the money is for professional photographers fees, materials, travel and publicity.

Blowjangles Street and Carnival band in Blackburn with Darwen get £4,600 towards instruments, production of multi-lingual leaflets, recording costs for a compact disc, workshop materials, upgrading of their website and costumes.

Haslingden Juniors football club is to get £4,940 for training equipment and kit, league registration fees for new teams, hire of winter floodlit facilities, coaching fees, junior management courses,first aid and child protection courses.

The group provides training and competitive opportunities for both boys and girls.

The Burnley-based North Hockey Umpires Association is to get £4,933 for two weekend training sessions and other training events.

Salesbury Pre School will receive £3,466 for resurfacing an outdoor play area to provide a safe outdoor play area complying with OFSTED standards.

The Friends of Pakistan Forum, serving Blackburn, Darwen, Accrington and Haslingden, has been awarded £3,000 to promote understanding between Pakistan and other communities.

The money is for a PA system, a laptop computer, printer and scanner, four display screens and a camera.