Imagine having the keys to a door that, once unlocked, your young people can walk through, towards the best life chances to fulfil their potential.

That's how it felt when we heard that Blackburn with Darwen's applications to the latest round of the Youth Investment Fund (YIF), announced in August, were successful. It's really exciting news for our young people, and we're so grateful that we received the highest grant award of any other English authority area – a staggering £8.3m.