VOLUNTARY and community groups in Burnley are celebrating a grant of almost a quarter of a million pounds to turn a disused listed building into a community support centre.

The bid by the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Council for Voluntary Services, with several local groups as partners, will see the transformation of a three-storey building linked to the Burnley Lane Baptist Church, in Colne Road.

They were today given a £220,000 boost which will see the building become a new base for several voluntary sector groups.

It is the second highest value scheme in a government allocation of £965,390 to groups in the North West and is the only one in Lancashire.

The money from the Government's capital modernisation fund has been awarded to projects to help them increase public awareness of their services, to encourage the setting up of co-located services such as one-stop shops and to use information technology to improve and make their services more accessible.

Home Office active community minister commented: "The voluntary and community sector is key to the Government's efforts to tackle social exclusion. It breaks down the barriers that stop people fulfilling their own potential."

Dorothy Lowe, CVS chief officer, said: "We are delighted, it is excellent news." The house attached to the church is at the corner of Colne Road and Hebrew Road. Some years ago, the Burnley Lane Baptist Church allowed the CVS to use it as accommodation for the homeless. Then it was vandalised and closed.

Dorothy said: "The £220,000 is to refurbish it as a community centre and base for various organisations."

The partners involved are the church, Relate, who deal with marriage guidance counselling; CRUSE, who provide bereavement support counselling; Home Start volunteers who help young families with children under five; Daneshouse and Stoneyholme Community Development Trust, who work with local residents, Parents in Pain, who support families which have had to deal with drug tragedies, Lancashire Family Mediation Services and the Women's Domestic Violence Helpline.

The various organisations are currently based at a number of locations.