Doing cartwheels over Lotto boost

CHRISTMAS has come early thanks to a £324,000 grant for an inspirational organisation that boosts the prospects of Oldhamers from poor backgrounds.

Cartwheel Arts, which also works with residents from Rochdale and Bury, targets areas of low youth employment as well as bringing elderly people out of isolation by improving their IT skills.

The lottery money will benefit at least 1,000 people, many who will have physical and mental health problems and low literacy skills.

Cartwheel director Rick Walker said: “We have known about the money for a while and we have had to keep it quiet, so to be able to announce it is fantastic. We are over the moon and absolutely thrilled.”