MORE than £6.5million has been awarded to projects in Gwent to help young parents and young people with disabilities.

The Big Lottery Fund's Bright New Futures programme has donated a total of £6,569,703 across eight projects which are either based in Gwent or help young people in the Gwent area.

This includes £990,814 to Newport Mind Association to help young people suffering from mental health problems and £955,662 to Charter Housing Association Limited to support young single parents living in social housing in Newport, Monmouthshire and Caerphilly.

The grants are a share of more than £14million being awarded to 18 projects across Wales by the programme, aimed at helping young people between the age of 14 and 25.

Other projects in Gwent to benefit include Bridges Community Centre, Monmouthshire, which has been awarded £778,241 to support at least 160 young disabled people while Monmouthshire Housing Association Limited has received £699,490 to support 450 young dads manage the transition to fatherhood positively.

Hafal, which provides services across south east Wales, including Gwent, received £753,813 to provide an early intervention service for 600 young people who are experiencing or are at risk of psychosis.

The Royal National Institute of Blind People which supports people Wales-wide will receive £999,450 to help 290 blind and partially sighted young people develop their independence, while Women Connect First which focuses on people from black and ethnic minorities in Newport, Cardiff and Penarth received £977,546.

Sense, the National Deafblind and Rubella Association, which provides services throughout south Wales including Newport, Caerphilly and Torfaen, received £414,687.

Big Lottery Fund Wales committee member and chairman of the Bright New Futures programme committee, Gareth Newton said: "These projects funded today will support young parents and young disabled people to help them be who they want to be and do what they want to do."

For further information about the programme and how to apply for funding visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/wales