The first four recipients of a £15m pot of funding pooled by four major grant makers have been named.

All will receive £1.5m over five years to support disadvantaged children in their areas.

The money is being handed out through the Communities for Children programme, which is backed by BBC Children in Need, City Bridge Foundation, the National Lottery Community Fund and the Pears Foundation.

Those receiving money include Corra Foundation, which will help local groups to improve the lives of children in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, Scotland.

“People and communities understand their own lives, challenges and aspirations better than anyone,” said Corra Foundation chief executive Carolyn Sawers.

“Working alongside our partners in Wishaw will give us an opportunity to listen to those voices, amplify them and support local people to design and deliver solutions that reflect what matters most to them.

“We believe that this approach will make a real and lasting difference to the lives of children and families who live there.”

The charity Right to Succeed will support children in Seacombe, Wallasey, near Liverpool.

Its chief executive Graeme Duncan said: “We look forward to building relationships in Seacombe, bringing residents, schools, services and community organisations together to co-design a shared vision for children and young people.

“By backing local ambition and learning alongside the community, we hope to break down barriers to opportunity and create lasting change.”

Also receiving funding is community interest company Coffee Arik, which will support young people in Hackney.

Another is Medrwn Mon, which supports communities and voluntary groups in Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales.

Communities for Children funding is being rolled out in phases to involve ten areas across the UK by next year.

---