BLACKPOOL Bears are roaring into the new millennium thanks to a £3,000 cash boost.

The pioneering sports club for the disabled, based at Stanley Park Sports Centre, was one of 93 community groups which shared a £280,000 New Year pay-out from Millennium Festival Awards for All.

The club's president, Coun Phil Dunne, said: "It's brilliant that we've got this award which will provide new equipment and staff training courses." Blackpool Council provides the facilities free every Saturday from 11.30am-2.30pm, catering for people with any disability - either physical or mental. It recently launched a Polar Bears sub-section for disabled swimmers at St George's Pool, and Grizzly Bears for the under-fives.

Football, badminton, tennis, volleyball, bowls and athletics are among the sports offered at weekly sessions where members can do as little or as much as they want. The £3,000 grant will help staff to prepare for a multi-disability football competition and buy a parachute to be used for ground games - the club's original parachute was stolen.

Fleetwood High School was another beneficiary of the Festival pay-outs. It received £2,775 to help its drama students produce a play with residents of Lakeland View, a residential centre for disabled adults. The money will be used to provide transport, publicity, props, scenery and to pay for staff time.

Since last September, North West groups have received 484 awards worth more than £1.5m from the Millennium Festival Awards for All scheme, which is continuing to accept applications until June 2000. Applicants should ring (0845) 600-2040.

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