A YOUTH project has been awarded more than £140,000 as part of a Government handout.

Bolton Lads' and Girls' Club has been providing an out of school hours service for children between the ages of 5 and 21 for 113 years and, with only 10 full time and 30 part time staff, relies heavily on the help of volunteers.

The organisation, which currently has around 150 volunteers of all ages and walks of life, plans to use the £143,015 to recruit new staff, which will give scope to increase the number of volunteers, as well as the quality of their experience and increased training.

Club manager, Jeremy Glover, is delighted with the grant. He said: "Volunteering is recognised as a good learning experience and helps people in their day jobs. These funds will allow us to give them a better experience, helping them to pick up organisational skills, people skills and increase their confidence."

The money has been made available through the Time Limited Development Fund -- worth £3.5 million a year -- which aims to boost community activity in 113 deprived areas across the country.

When Home Secretary David Blunkett announced the grants, he said: "I want to see a nation in which everyone -- no matter what their age, race or social background -- has a sense of belonging and a stake in society.

"As part of this commitment, the Government is supporting community activists and organisations to galvanise people with a vision for the future and what they can do to achieve it."

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer at Bolton Lads and Girls Club can contact Jeremy Glover or David Kemp on 01204 435363.