SOUTH Craven Community Action has been granted almost a quarter of a million pounds to help minority ethnic communities living in the area.

The group found out on Friday that it was one of nine projects based in the region that would qualify for a share of £1.4 million in Government funding.

The £248,248 cash boost is part of funding being made available by the Government in its second round of the Connecting Communities Fund, a race equality grants programme which will fund the qualifying projects over the next three years.

Milton Pearson, chief officer of South Craven Community Action, explained that the funding was made available after the census identified small and isolated pockets of ethnic minorities in Craven.

He added: "Although the largest is in Skipton with the Broughton Road community, there are also smaller ones with one family in a given area."

Mr Pearson said the group would oversee a project to identify these communities and help to bring them together by setting up local forums

In the longer term it is hoped the initiative will help these ethnic communities interact with statutory bodies and in turn help these organisations discover what services are needed by such isolated groups and to deliver these services.

South Craven Community Action is one of 15 local development agencies across North Yorkshire and is funded by North Yorkshire County Council social services and Craven, Harrogate and Rural District Primary Care Trust.

The group runs an elderly care scheme, which relieves primary carers up to two to three times a week and a holiday school club/after school club in South Craven.

As well as the funding for the Connecting Communities initiative, the group, which is approaching its 20th birthday, has also raised £18,000 to develop a new community office.

Funds from its own reserves and grants from Lloyds TSB Foundation, North Yorkshire County Council SRB 6 and Craven District Council have contributed to this development.

Not bad for a group that started off in a room under social services at Back Colne Road, Cross Hills, with just one member of staff, a desk, typewriter and telephone. The new accommodation is situated at the old caretaker's bungalow on the South Craven School site, which has been converted into offices to house its 40 staff and large number of volunteers.

Mr Pearson commented: "We're looking forward to the future. It's an exciting period for us and morale is high."

He added the group hoped to employ another member of staff to launch the Connecting Communities initiative in November.

County Councillor Shelagh Marshall said: "I am absolutely delighted at this news and just want to say 'well done' to all the volunteers. What a wonderful week they must have had".

Announcing the winning projects, Home Office minister Fiona Mactaggart, said: "The Government is committed to creating a cohesive society, where we promote equality and diversity and safe and strong communities for all.

"These projects are encouraging people to get more involved in their communities and gain new skills to fulfil their potential,