TWO organisations in Leigh which support young people have been awarded more than £220,000 by BBC Children in Need.

Embrace Wigan and Leigh and Leigh Youth will be given a grant of £113,672 to give support to disadvantages children and young people with additional behavioural needs.

Leigh Youth and Community Development Trust will receive £108,482 to deliver sport and physical activity sessions for youngsters with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Both programmes have aims of raising the confidence and self-esteem of its participants and getting them to improve their teamwork skills by working together.

The children will have the opportunity to take part in the sessions in a safe and secure environment that will encourage them to make new friends, develop their confidence and self-esteem and improve their teamwork, balance and coordination skills.

Hannah Forbes, Trust Manager at Leigh Youth and Community Development Trust said: “We are delighted to have been awarded with this funding from BBC Children in Need which will enable us to support children and young people in the area with ASD.

“It will help to remove the barriers that they face when it comes to taking part in physical and sports activities.”

This is the first funding round of the year, with additional funding to be allocated to projects across the UK throughout 2018.

BBC Children in Need chief executive Simon Antrobus added: “A huge thank you to our generous supporters.

“It is wonderful to be able to award this new funding to projects working with disadvantaged children and young people in local communities right across the UK.

“The money so generously donated makes it possible for us to fund much needed projects like these, making a positive difference to young lives.”

Children in Need is currently providing money for five projects of more than £429,000 across the borough.

BBC Children in Need awards grants seven times of year and their are two types.

There is a Main Grants Programme for over £10,000 a year for projects up to three years.

Its Small Grants Programme is for up to and including £10,000 over the same period of time.