This project is absolutely vital as it will help to combat the general gang and drugs culture in the area

Mark Hamilton Project co-ordinator

Children in Ballymena, County Antrim, will also benefit from vital training in health and safety to make them aware of dangers in the home and on the street.

Other activities include a peer education programme for disaffected young people in west Belfast and pioneering after-schools clubs designed with learning through play in mind.

In total, the New Opportunities Fund has awarded more than �8m to learning projects in the province under the programme.

Walter Rader, the head of the fund's Northern Ireland office, said the projects would offer stimulating learning experiences for children throughout the year.

A summer scheme in west Belfast has also been awarded �18,000 to develop social and leadership skills among young people.

Gang culture

Among those receiving funding are a summer scheme aimed at developing social and leadership skills among young people in west Belfast.

The money will be used to develop a range of activities for 360 young people at eight schools in the area.

Project co-ordinator Mark Hamilton said the grant would allow them to run a scheme over two weeks in each of the next three summers aimed at youngsters over 13.

"This project is absolutely vital as it will help to combat the general gang and drugs culture in the area," he said.

"We hope engage young people in other activities that will help them set their sights higher."

Low attainment levels

Children aged between four and nine in a Ballymena housing estate will receive health and safety training during the summer thanks to a grant of almost �3,000.

Project co-ordinator Amelia O'Neill said they planned to run a series of workshops inviting local police, fire fighters and health professionals to speak to the children about issues such as road safety and "stranger danger".

"There have been reports in the past of attempted child abduction in the area, so it is important that local children are aware of the dangers around, particularly if they are playing outside in the summer," she said.

Playboard has secured a grant of �255,483 to develop after-school activities in Belfast, Omagh, Ballymena, Newtownabbey and Coalisland.

Their project will target children with low attainment levels through a range of activities such as arts, drama, role-play, homework clubs and ICT.