COMMUNITY organisations across Warrington are celebrating after securing more than £54,000 in National Lottery funding.

In total, 36 community projects across Cheshire have received £739,861 as part of the National Lottery Community Fund and will now be able to continue and expand.

Among these is Stockton Heath-based Steps, a national charity helping those whose lives are affected by childhood lower limb conditions.

It has received almost £10,000 to recruit and train volunteers to offer specialist support.

Sport Works Cheshire CIC, which has an office in Appleton, has been offered £9,994 to provide opportunities for young people with disabilities to engage in physical activity, helping them to learn new skills, improve fitness and make new friends.

Grappenhall pre-school was awarded more than £9,000 for its new programme.

It aims to form healthier relationships within families and to bring on the early development of young children through physical play.

The charity will run a two-strand programme to engage parents in activities with their children and to increase the amount of time that children are enjoying active fun.

Meanwhile, Burtonwood Sewing Group received £7,870 to run classes for residents to reduce isolation.

Also among the groups to receive funds is the Heartbeat Community Group and Heritage Family Support.

Duncan Nicholson, head of funding for the north west region at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: "Young people are the experts in their own lives and, thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to support an exciting range of organisations and projects delivering the activities that they have told us they want in their communities.

"We have seen time again that when young people are in the lead, amazing things happen.

"We are excited to see how this funding will be used to enable communities to thrive."