A HELPING hand has arrived for community groups in Burnley - with the appointment of new council voluntary sector co-ordinator Valerie Mills.

Town hall-based Val will spearhead the development of existing groups and supporting people who want to set up new local community or voluntary organisations.

Val arrives from Keighley, where for 14 years she has been on the town's council for voluntary services.

Before that she worked for the National Council for Voluntary Organisations in West Yorkshire. Married, with three grown-up children, she says: "Burnley already has a wide variety of charities, voluntary and community groups and many volunteers active in their local communities.

"Positive partnerships are being forged between the council, other statutory services and voluntary organisations as part of the programme to regenerate the town. My role is to help build on these partnerships by providing more support from Burnley Council through both the voluntary sector grants budget and information, advice and general support, to voluntary and community groups."

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