Music project seeking to cut reoffending wins Lottery cash

The project, being run by the charity Live Music Now and academics at University of the West of England, Bristol, has received £361,121 and will investigate the effect of music projects on the behaviour of 120 young offenders over three years.

Patsy Lang, project director at Live Music Now SW, said: "By following individuals' lives after our music programmes end, we will be able to see and document how their pathways have been changed by musical interventions. We hope to uncover new aspects of musical influence beyond our current experience over the three-year study."

Other schemes to win a grant include a four-year research project by the charity Catch 22 to investigate how health trusts, councils and schools can improve the service they offer young people in care. The project, which also focuses on improving the transition for looked-after children into adulthood, has won £500,000.

Sir Clive Booth, Big Lottery Fund chairman, said: "We are very pleased to be supporting these very worthwhile research projects, which could make such a big difference to many children and young people, and help build a brighter future for them. There is no limit to the future benefits we could see from social research projects like these."

In total, £20m was handed out to 56 research projects.