NEARY £90,000 has been given to Redditch projects working with young and vulnerable people.

The People’s Health Trust has awarded the money, raised through The Health Lottery, to three community projects in the town.

More than £23,000 will be awarded to Growing Batchley, which sees gardening volunteers brighten that area of town. Additionally, the group will be working with HMP Hewell to support offenders on day release.

Nearly £32,000 will be awarded to the Communicating Communities project.

This scheme from Redditch Youth and Community Enterprise (RCYE) Limited will see the creation of a community cyber café in Smallwood.

As well as a space for computer access, young people from the RYCE youth club will be providing valuable computer training to older people.

Finally, more than £30,000 will be awarded to an upcycling project run by the IDC Sewing Cafe CIC.

This project aims to engage vulnerable women from a number of Redditch wards with low-level mental health issues to make friends, grow in confidence and address their mental health through the upcycling of furniture and upholstery.

Redditch MP Karen Lumley welcomed the news.

She said: “It’s great to see so many projects making a real difference in the community. I’d like to thank the People’s Health Trust, not only for the work they do up and down the country, but specifically for awarding these transformational grants in Redditch.

“I know they will make a real difference to those using these services."