GLASGOW groups who help young people have received a cash boost thanks to the lottery.

A total of £377,388 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Young Start programme will help a number of city groups develop their skills and talents.

Ashfield Football and Athletic Club were given£30,500 and they will use the grant to give 450 local children and young people an opportunity to take part in football and wider sporting activity. The project will use existing coaches, as well as recruiting and developing coaches/volunteers.

Nine groups across the country will benefit from the money.

In Glasgow, Lords Taverners Limited were also given £33,880 to deliver cricket activities, sports leader qualifications and interactive health workshops to disadvantaged young people across the north of the city including Springburn and Possilpark.

Rutherglen based Project 31 SCIO were given £49,800 to offer 50 young people, aged between 10 and 16, support and and guidance from play mentors who will teach them new skills around training, team building and personal development activities. These young people will then use their newfound knowledge and skills to support other children to play in their local areas.

Paisley YMCA were given £49,538. This group will support young people aged between 11 and 18 to formulate, develop and implement business ideas based on a need that they have identified within their community.

Bargeddie Safety Zone received £42,184 to help around 150 young people aged between 12 and 20 benefit from the activities which will help them develop confidence and improve wellbeing.

The Scottish Book Trust also received £50,000 to develop and deliver a young writer programme which will offer seven young people aged 14 to 17 years, from across Scotland, the opportunity to develop their creative writing through a bespoke six month programme.

Maureen McGinn, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, said: “Young Start helps ensure that Scotland’s next generation has the best possible start in life. All of today’s successful projects share that ambition, so I am delighted to announce this latest investment totalling £377,388.”