BOLTON Lads and Girls Club has been given a £10,000 boost for a new outreach project.

The Westhoughton charity was given the grant by the town council to allow qualified youth workers to head out onto the streets to meet young people.

Town councillor David Wilkinson threw his support behind the £10,080 grant which will offer youngsters support on local activities, family, school or substance misuse problems and help them with career development.

Cllr Wilkinson said: "If this helps save one young person from substance misuse or from ending up in prison then it will have been a success. One vulnerable young person is one too many."

The Liberal Democrat party member claimed that Westhoughton Town Council had been asked to support the project before its knowledge of Bolton Council's intention to cut down its youth provision funding for Westhoughton.

However Bolton Council have refuted those claims.

Bolton Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Youth and Sport, Councillor John Byrne, said: “Bolton Lads and Girls Club wanted to expand their youth provision in Westhoughton. Due to their growing youth provision in the area we were able to review the council’s involvement in youth sessions at the John Holt Centre.

"As these sessions were historically funded by Westhoughton Town Council the changes were made in partnership with all parties concerned and town councillors were kept fully informed.

“Other provision for younger children and community activity still take place at the John Holt Centre.”

Bolton Council granted the charity £50,000 last year plus a further £32,000 in capital investment and the premises "for a nominal amount."

The grant will pay for two youth workers to visit areas such as The Pungle, The Pewfist, Washacre and Wingates three times per week as well as fund a minibus to take youngsters to and from the club.

Paul Griffiths, head of external funding and partnerships at the club, said: "There is an element of Bolton Council's provision withdrawing from the area and the grant from the Town Council is replacing that.

"The outreach project is about breaking down barriers and allowing young people to integrate together."

It is understood that Westhoughton Town Council has secured its commitment to maintain its own 'Get Active' Westhoughton fund of £40,000 for youth work.

Cllr Wilkinson added: "We have an important role to play in giving all of Westhoughton's young people good opportunities in life."