SEVEN groups in Glasgow and the West of Scotland which support young people have been awarded more than £300,000 from the Big Lottery.

The Young Start programme is funded by cash lying in dormant bank and building society accounts.

Glasgow based Samba Ya Bamba gets more than £47,300 to build on an existing project which delivers a city wide programme of street music taster sessions leading to the formation of a new youth band.

Sessions will be targeted at young people aged 11 plus who have not previously been involved in arts.

At the end of 15 months there will be a street band festival featuring youth street bands from across Scotland.

Scottish Sports Futures gets more than £45, 800 to work with local youth leaders from North-East Glasgow so they can engage with 75 children and their families with the aim of encouraging a healthy lifestyle. tackling childhood obesity.

Articulate Cultural Trust in East Renfrewshire receives £38,800 to produce a quarterly digital magazine aimed at young people who have experienced care.

MindMosaic Counselling and Therapy in Inverclyde has been awarded £42,600 to expand its play therapy services for children and young people.

The grant will support 150 vulnerable children in the area who are dealing with a range of challenging issues.

Windmills Lanarkshire, based in North Lanarkshire, gets almost £50,000 to provide training and work experience for young people with moderate to severe learning disabilities through their community café.

Kustom Kruizers CIC will use its £45,000 award to establish a community bicycle building project which teachers young adults how to strip, build and restore bicycles.

And Winston Lodge in South Lanarkshire gets £49,300 to allow the group to continue and develop their Path of Little People project.

Around 1600 young people aged between eight and 24 will build their confidence by getting involved in completing a path which will include a miniature fairy village and tree houses.

Big Lottery Fund Scotland chairwoman Maureen McGinn said: “Young Start creates opportunities for young people to reach their full potential and every one of the projects being awarded funding today shares that aim.”