NEARLY £50,000 is set to be invested across East Lancashire to give young people the skills they need to thrive.

Four projects will benefit from the latest £500,000 of North West funding from the Big Lottery Fund, it has been announced.

Older people in Blackburn will be able to try their hand at digital photography, creative writing and dancing, after Action Factory was handed £7,350.

And the Haslingden-based Cotton Shed Theatre Company will use £9,045 on a pioneering sign language story-telling initiative.

Four to seven year olds and their parents will be taught Makaton sign language at the organisation’s Ryefield Avenue base.

A Cotton Shed spokesman said: “This will teach children about inclusivity from a young age and improve understanding of those who have different abilities.”

Another £9,950 is on its way to St John the Baptist RC Primary in Padiham, which applied for help with a health project.

Youngsters and their parents will now be able to use ‘cyber coaches’ to learn all about dance and fitness routines.

Dhamak, a Burnley-based scheme run in association with Mid Pennine Arts, received £8,950.

Young women will be able to take part in creative writing and spoken word workshops, bringing people together from different ethnic backgrounds.

And Croston Parish Council, near Chorley, has received £10,000 for a horticultural scheme to teach youngsters about tree-planting.