A CARIBBEAN steel pan group is celebrating after winning lottery funding in the latest round of grants.

Brian Wise, artistic director of the U CRE8 Community Arts group, said that the Awards For All funding of nearly £8,000 would help develop musical learning for local children, and that the group would now be able to offer over 100 free workshops in Chilton and Ferryhill.

Durham Community Business College in Ushaw Moor, near Durham City, has received over £7,500 to provide six local primary schools with sports coaching, equipment and activities.

School sports co-ordinator Paul Donaghy was pleased that the funding provided what he described as a “wonderful opportunity for children” in the Durham area.

Meanwhile, the Durham Skate and Bike Partnership has been awarded £8,000 to involve boys and young men in improving four skate parks in the city.

The project, which is based in and around Durham city, intends to encourage the development of creative skills and self confidence.

The head of the north east region’s Big Lottery Fund, James Turner, praised groups throughout the region, which received between them almost £200,000, saying that the organisations were giving young people “skills and attributes that would serve them well in later life”.

Further information about the Awards for All scheme can be found at the www.awardsforall.org.uk website.