A CHARITY has been given almost £100,000 to help disadvantaged families learn how to grow their own fruit and vegetables.

OASES (Outdoor and Sustainability Education Specialists) was given the grant to help it deliver four Growing Together clubs around County Durham.

Clare Garnham, OASES co-ordinator said: “We’re really pleased to have been awarded with funding to continue our work with children and their families.

“With this we’ll be able to encourage more families to grow their own produce and put more vegetables onto the plates of children and young people across County Durham.”

The new clubs are set to launch at Brandon Primary School, Seaview, in Seaham, and St Andrew’s in Bishop Auckland next week.

They will run over three years and will give people the chance to find out more about how to grow food, nutrition and how to cook with the fruit and vegetables.

Amy Mycock, who helps run the project for OASES, said: “It’s really exciting. We can’t wait to get started now the weather is a bit better.

“There is a lot of cooking involved which is something I’m really passionate about.”

BBC Children in Need decided to give the project a grant of £95,538 after seeing the difference it can make in people’s lives.

Isabel Farnell, it’s regional head of the North, said: “It’s fantastic news that we have awarded new funding to OASES in County Durham.

“Over the coming months, the project will work with disadvantaged children and young people in local communities to make a tangible and lasting difference to their lives.”

The new funding will enable the project to provide services to young people in the area.

Engaging the children and their families in the activities, the project aims to help improve relationships between families, the parents’ and the children’s skills in growing fresh produce and encourages the children to be more willing to try different fruit and vegetables.

It is one of 20 projects in County Durham to have been given funding by Children in Need, which has handed out £977,001 in the area.

BBC Children in Need’s chief executive Simon Antrobus said: “A huge thank you to our generous supporters – it’s wonderful to be able to award this new funding to projects working with disadvantaged children and young people in local communities right across the UK.

“The money so generously donated makes it possible for us to fund much needed projects like these, making a positive difference to young lives.”