AWARD-winning Bestwood Black Diamonds Welfare Band hit a high note when it was given nearly £10,000.

A successful application to the Big Lottery Fund's Awards for All programme last year resulted in a grant which would allow the band to train more junior members.

The £9,941 award was spent on new instruments for the main band, allowing the old ones to be handed down to younger members.

The band bought two cornets, two trombones and three horns.

Band manager Richard Greenwood said: "It has enabled more young people to join us. A lot of the instruments are 35 years old but are ok to be played by junior members.

"It will speed up the process of developing young players into the players of tomorrow.

"We can also go out to more schools in the area and do workshops too.

"We're already partners with the Holgate School in Hucknall so most junior players come from there.

"We hope we can now push out further so even more children benefit."

Pupils at Holgate are producing a CD of the band which will be released later this year.

Bestwood Black Diamonds Welfare Band, formed in 1947 as a colliery band, has nearly 30 members in the main section.

The junior group, which has been going for three years, has 16 members aged seven to 14.

It took Mr Greenwood three attempts before the lottery application succeeded.

His message to groups that have had failed bids is: "You've got to keep trying. Don't stop."

Over the last 18 months, Awards for All – a grant scheme for small community ventures – has handed out more than £370,000 to 45 projects in Notts.

This year, it hopes to help even more projects from its biggest prize pot so far of £45m for distribution across England.

Groups can apply for an award of between £300 and £10,000.

Last September, Forest Town Primary School received the maximum award.

The money enabled it to convert an empty caretaker's house into an adult learning centre and base for its Nurture group for children with special needs.

The cash was used to equip the house with a kitchen and disabled toilet.

And the upstairs was turned into two teaching rooms and a sensory room which will double up as a creche.

Later this year, parents will be able to take adult education courses which can lead to a qualification, helping them into employment.

Head teacher Garry Ineson said: "We feel that a lot of parents are not the sort who will go to college because they don't have the confidence and it's outside their comfort zone.

"But if we are able to put something on here, I am convinced they will access it.

"If we raise the aspirations of parents, we are raising their children's as well."

It would have been a struggle to convert the property without the grant, said Mr Ineson.

Nottingham Ishango Science Club is using a £9,500 grant to make a DVD documentary of a series of reminiscence sessions between African Caribbean youngsters and their parents, with the aim of bridging the knowledge gap between them.

The Radiator Festival was awarded £8,800 to provide workshops for young people from deprived parts of Nottingham and Derby.

It will allow them to record their journeys around the area and build an interactive online map of their community.

The Enigma Youth Project received £7,590 to provide a healthy lifestyle programme for young mothers.

The programme will focus on caring for a child, fitness, healthy eating and training towards employment.

To apply, download a form at www.awardsforall.org.uk or ring 0845 410 2030 for an application form.

Only community not-for-profit groups can apply.

lynette.pinchess@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk