TWO groups have received nearly £600,000 to help integrate minority ethnic communities in Huddersfield.

Voluntary Action Kirklees has received £341,142 and the Kirklees Racial Equality Council has received £251,718.

The money has come from the Home Office from its Connecting Communities grant scheme.

Nationally, £15.16m has been awarded by the Government to give new opportunities to marginalised men and women from minority ethnic communities.

Mr Khalid Hussain, chief executive of the Huddersfield-based Kirklees Racial Equality Council, said the £251,718 would be channelled into education to help thwart racism.

He added: "We are going to employ a resource manager who is going to work with a host of faith communities in Kirklees to help develop understanding and tolerance.

"The manager will have a programme of work, managed by myself and the board of directors on the KREC."

Recruitment for a manager, who will work for three years, will take place shortly.

Mr Hussain said education would feature strongly in the programme, along with events such as open days at places of worship and art exhibitions.

Voluntary Action Kirklees aims to develop Asian women's networks.

Ms Dorothea Annison, partnership manager at VAK, said: "We will employ workers to work with the existing groups that are out there.

"Sometimes they need help to look for funding and learn skills such as the best way to run a group."

VAK aims to raise awareness of mainstream institutions of the needs of Asian communities.

They also want to enable organisations to fulfil their responsibilities under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

Yorkshire and the Humber has received £1.4m from the government fund.

Home Office minister Fiona MacTaggart said: "The Government is committed to creating a cohesive society, where we promote quality and diversity and safe and strong communities for all.

"These projects are encouraging people to get more involved in their communities and gain new skills to fulfil their potential.

"Celebrating local achievements help tackle racist and negative stereotyping and can help give people a real sense of belonging."