£10,000 grant for refugee playtime

FLASHBACK to an OAPG arts and craft session in Chadderton Hall Park

AN OLDHAM-BASED project working with disadvantaged children and young people has been awarded nearly £10,000 by BBC Children in Need.

Oldham Play Action Group (OPAG) received a £9,635 boost from the charity's small grants programme to run a programme of fun, child-focused play sessions for refugee and asylum-seeking children and their families. The sessions will develop the children's communication skills and help the young people to build new friendships, as well as support the young people to feel less isolated.

Steph Gill, OPAG co-ordinator, said: "At Oldham Play Action Group we work with children in our local area who can be extremely vulnerable, so it's great to hear that we've been awarded this funding for BBC Children in Need that will enable us to support them."

Children in Need awards grants at seven points during the year and funds two types of grants, both of which are open to new or existing applicants.

A Main Grants Programme is for grants of more than £10,000 per year to support projects for up to three years. Meanwhile, a Small Grants Programme includes grants up to and including £10,000, and has been refreshed to support projects for up to three years.

Speaking of the new grant, Isabel Farnell, BBC Children in Need's regional head of the north, said: "At BBC Children in Need we fund projects that are making a tangible difference to young lives.

"We are delighted to be funding projects like Oldham Play Action Group, which is a great example of our Small Grants at work and is only made possible thanks to our supporters."

Projects working with children and young people facing any kind of disadvantage can find out more on how to apply for funding at bbc.co.uk/pudsey/grants.