A COMMUNITY scheme in Darwen is to launch 36 projects including a timebank, a Glee club and an enterprise to renovate bikes.

The Stand Out In Darwen project spent four weeks in May touring a portable living room around the town collecting over 100 ideas from all sections of the community.

Those ideas were distilled at a Turning Ideas Into Action day at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy attended by 106 people.

Stand Out in Darwen was formed by the academy after receiving £150,000 Big Lottery funding.

Co-ordinator Chris Midgely, said: “We were a little nervous when it came to the day.

“Would people commit to taking their idea forward and committing their own time to do something with it?

“But we had an Incredible surprise with the number of people and projects represented.

“We have assigned funding and expert advice from our panel of community champions and then voted for the most popular schemes.”

The projects which gathered the most support were a social group for Asian under-18s, a Glee Club for children from both the academy and Darwen Vale schools and after-school Chill Zone for students.

Other schemes in the five most popular were the Green Cycle social enterprise, which will restore disused bicycles and put them back on the roads and Lavender, a timebank which will see services exchanged between members without money changing hands.

Chris added: “The projects can now progress and we’re confident that all the elements to support and help them thrive are in place.”