YOUNG runaways will be thrown a lifeline after charity Urban Outreach scooped more than £400,000 on the lottery.

The successful bid just comes month after the Bolton charity, known for its work to help the homeless, received nearly£500,000 in March to help people in crisis.

The latest cash windfall of £420,000 will support children who have previously run away or have gone missing from their homes or care homes — and help those at risk of harm by providing early intervention guidance to prevent them from becoming runaways.

Cash will be spent on expanding the service to provide mentoring and support to those who have gone missing before.

The project is described as one of the best in the country to protect vulnerable youngsters.

Dave Bagley, chief executive of Urban Outreach, said: “We are really pleased to have been awarded £420,025 over five years from the Big Lottery Fund Reaching Communities to support our Missing from Home project by providing an early intervention work.

“This will be for young people who are in need of additional help and support to prevent them from going missing again.

“Urban Outreach is committed to working in partnership as we see this as the only way to build long lasting and sustainable changes for our communities, our Missing from Home Project (R.U.N. A) is another great expression of partnership working that has been recognised by the lottery.

“We work with Bolton Council’s Child Protection team, Greater Manchester Police and Bolton at Home to deliver what we believe is one of the best and forward thinking services for young people who go missing from home in the country.

“All those in the partnership are motivated to protect young people who go missing from home and support both them and their families.

“This new funding will help us to build on many years of successful work and assist us as a partnership to protect and support even more young people in our town.”

In March, the organisation received £490,000 from the lottery.

Mr Bagley said: “We are overwhelmed by this additional funding from the Lottery and demonstrates how their resources are being targeted at the most vulnerable and in addition recognises our great partnership that is the Bolton Family.”