TWO Asian groups, launched to help carers of the elderly and disabled, have been awarded a £10,000 grant to set up a joint office in Accrington.

The Aawaz Asian Women Carer's Group and the Ikhlaq Asian Male Carers group will be moving into the their new home at Portland Street Community Centre, Accrington in October.

The two groups, who have received the cash from Lancashire County Council social services, are currently meeting every month in carers' homes, and now hope to provide the separate services for Asian men and women more regularly.

Saeeda Farooq, 48, of Walmsley Close, Church, was inspired to form Aawaz during her work as a bilingual assistant at Hyndburn Park Primary school, where she was surprised to find out how many carers there were in her community.

She said: "My daughter Aisha, 16, is mentally disabled and when I met other Asian carers, I realised how useful it would be to meet and offer mutual support.

"I knew there were services like this in Manchester and Birmingham, so why not something here along the same lines?"

"I formed the Aawaz Asian Women Carer's Group in 1998 and we offer health advice, interpretation and translation services, alternative therapy and social get togethers.

She added: "The new office will mean it will be possible for us to meet more regularly and there will be more facilities, such as a computer, printer, television and video. It will also be much less cramped."

Mohammed Sattar is a 29-year-old carer who looks after his mother, who is elderly and disabled, and helps run the men's project.

He said: "We have special needs because of our linguistic, cultural and religious differences which could not be provided in a group which catered for non-Asians.

"The group was established in 1984 and our 20 members have been more or less running and paying for it it ourselves for most of that time.

"There are many Asian male carers in the community but most of them in our group are over 40. We would like to attract younger men, too."

"So we are delighted with the new facilities which we hope will allow us to offer one to one support and assistance."

For more details abnout Aawaz, call 01254 727942 and for Ikhlaq, call 01254 301501.