A PROJECT to help youngsters manage their money – organised by Bolton Lads and Girls Club – has received nearly £28,000 in funding.

The club's My Money Matters programme has received a cash boost of £27,578.40 from Natwest's Skills and Opportunities Fund.

The fund gives out £2.5 million in total, and more than 900 organisations from across the UK and Republic of Ireland applied for a share of this year’s fund. A total of 90 were chosen to enter the public vote, in which the club was successful.

The programme will involve financial literacy workshops with people from deprived communities in Bolton. The focus of the workshops will be better budgeting, savvy shopping and how to work for yourself.

Karen Edwards, CEO of Bolton Lads and Girls Club, said: "We are delighted to have been selected as a recipient of NatWest’s Skills and Opportunities Funding.

"To be able to engage our young members in exciting entrepreneurial activities is an important part of our club’s offer.

"As well as developing a range of transferable and practical business skills, our ‘Taste of Enterprise’ workshops will foster entrepreneurial spirit, support creative and ambitious ideas, build self-confidence and help young people to realise their potential.

"Bolton Lads and Girls Club is open to all young people 8+. If you are a young person with big ideas and would like to take part, we would love for you to join us.”

Richard Topliss, chairman of NatWest's North Regional Board, added: "It was a challenging decision because of the standard of entries we received. But the panel felt that all of the organisations would make a massive impact in their local communities.

"Our congratulations and best wishes go to Bolton Lads and Girls Club, and I’d encourage anyone who wasn’t successful this time to try again when applications open in August for the next round.”

Charities, not-for-profit organisations and state-funded schools and colleges can apply for up to £35,000 each for a specific project from the fund which will distribute grants totalling £2.5 million this year and is expected to benefit more than 25,000 people.