CHARITIES and voluntary groups across East Lancashire have been awarded more than £38,000 from the Millennium Festival awards fund.

Fourteen organisations across Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley have been given grants.

In Blackburn, award winners include:

The Blackburn Hindu Centre, which has been given £4,800 to fund the buying of exhibition stands, art materials, keep-fit mats, venue hire and costumes.

The Shama Advice Group, which has been awarded £3,485 to pay for the purchase of video and audio equipment, art and craft materials, transport costs, outings, kitchen equipment, games equipment and tutor fees.

The Chapeltown and Edgworth Millennium Festival - awarded £1,350 to contribute towards the costs of programme publication, marketing and administration.

The Jam Factory Jazz Orchestra - given £5,000 to help pay the fees of professional performers.

The Highfield Scout Group - £2,871 to pay for camp fees, marquee hire, transport, trainers fees and play equipment.

The East Lancashire Deaf and Blind Club - given £4,903 for transport and running costs associated with 10 awareness sessions, 16 trips, publicity, postage, telephone costs and volunteers expenses.

Age Concern Blackburn with Darwen, awarded £1,540 to pay for production and advertising costs of a leaflet and newspaper.

East Lancashire Bowling Club, get £2,408 to pay for display stands, materials, insurance and advertising.

In Hyndburn, award winners include:

Church Central Residents Association - £3,499 to pay for publicity, equipment hire, St John Ambulance fees, brass band and choir fees, insurance and computer equipment.

In the Ribble Valley, winning organisations were:

The East Lancashire Sailing Club, which was given £2,915 for improvements to disabled access to an entrance hall and toilets and the installation of a ramp and new exterior decking allowing access to a hoist.

Pendle County Primary School - awarded £1,115 to fund artists fees and materials.

Chatburn Pre-School - £1,425 to pay for a computer, scanner and printer.

Chipping Amateur Theatrical Society - handed £3,248 to pay for lighting equipment, costumes and float decorations.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.