Youth groups among county's projects given £280,000 of Big Lottery money

A YOUTH group in Matlock has been given £8,700 to help put on more activities and create a website.

Matlock Youth Hub works with young people aged 11 to 19 and has been given the money from the National Lottery Awards for All scheme.

Lindsay Allen, chair of the group, said: "This grant will ensure we can offer lots of enjoyable activities.

She said they were keen to break down barriers and give a positive impression of what young people could do.

"We'll be working with a filmmaker, restaurateurs and other local businesses, to show young people what job opportunities there are and that they don't have to move away from the town to find work."

The project is one of five in Derbyshire and 35 in the East Midlands receiving grants totalling £284,324.

Also celebrating the latest round of awards is Derbyshire County Golf Partnership, which is to get £9,564 for a new golf coaching and competition for boys and girls under 12.

In Derby, Friends of Meadowfields received £1,950 to get more people involved in their over-50s meetings by offering new activities and training for volunteers.

Mickleover Floral Art Group got £828 to provide first-aid training for members to comply with health and safety rules.

And Bolsover and District Cycling Club received £9,358 to increase the number of young people in the club by organising cycling events and competitions as well as offering coaching for BMX, cyclocross, cycle speedway and mountain biking.

Mick McGrath, head of the East Midlands' Big Lottery Fund, praised the work of the youth groups, in particular, for enabling youngsters to learn and be active.