WIRRAL community projects have been awarded a share of more than £143,000 of National Lottery funding.

The money is being distributed by the Big Lottery Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.

Among those benefing are Autism Together - receiving £10,000 to deliver sports activities for adults with autism - and Community Cohesion in Birkenhead, which is receiving just under £10,000 to run a community mentoring scheme that encourages local people to learn new skills and gain support and advice to secure employment.

The range demonstrates the breadth and variety of different groups applying for National Lottery money to support their ambitions.

But while diverse, they share one thing in common – they all have the local community at their heart.

Another group celebrating is the 1125 Project, which has been awarded £10,000 to offer drama workshops for young people with mental ill health and experience of homelessness or exclusion from education.

The work will support them to develop new skills, gain confidence and find much needed friendship.

Jo Halliday, director at 1125, said: "Thanks to National Lottery players, this funding will help to change the lives of young people in our local community.

"We know from experience that drama workshops are a brilliant outlet to explore some of the challenges facing young people today.

"Through these sessions young people will develop new skills, gain confidence and make new friends - all of which will help them overcome any obstacles they face in the future and thrive.

"The workshops will be driven by their own ideas so that they feel they are making themselves heard."

James Harcourt, England grant-making director at the Big Lottery Fund, said: "Great community projects like the 1125 project are what National Lottery funding is all about.

"We can see how the money raised by players for good causes helps to bring ideas to life and gives people the opportunity to work together for the good of their community.

"Whether from a village, town or city, we're proud that our funding supports people who have identified what matters to them and their community and who want to make a positive change."

The other Wirral projects are, as follows:

  • Thingwall Recreation Centre, receiving £6,600 to refurbish its male and female toilets.
  • Earth Moves Co-Operative Limited in Wallasey, receiving £9,580 for its Dream Green project to bring people from diverse communities together for a series of courses and wellbeing and holistic the£rapy sessions.
  • Hope Place in Birkenhead, awarded £9,600 for part-time manager to improve work of group providing services for people with a range of disadvantages.
  • Wirral Churches' Ark project, awarded £9,684 for its Great Escape plan to deliver a series of personal development and independence skills workshops.
  • Birkenhead-based's Coaching and community support women's project 'Moving forward', which aims to increase confidence, awarded £9,974
  • WEB, Birkenhead, awarded £10,000 for its 'Heal Your Life' Recovery Programme
  • Church Road Neighbourhood Resource Centre in Birkenhead, receives £10,000 to help fund community activities
  • Leasowe Development Trust awarded £10,000 to pay for community organiser who will run a social action hub
  • Wallasey-based China Spirit UK CIC receives £10,000 for Tai Chi and Mindfulness mornings