Community and support groups are celebrating a windfall of more than £600,000.

The Sussex-based organisations are among 30 in the South-East to get a share of £3.4 million from the Big Lottery Fund.

Chichester Diocesan Association for Family Support Work, which helps those in the Brighton and Hove area, will receive £195,655.

Acting director Ann Ward said: "This means we can fund two new workers to support families in Brighton and Hove that need help. These families might be single parents or grandparents and the children might have disabilities, learning difficulties or simply be living in acute poverty.

"Our work is about injecting support and we go into homes and help where we can.

"It might be recommending the family take a holiday at our holiday centre or accompanying a lone parent with an acute illness to court for child access."

A grant of £161,379 goes to Brighton and Hove Working Together for expansion of its training project.

Development worker Michelle Pooley said: "This will help us identify potential community leaders and train them up in leadership skills.

"We will now be able to work with new and emerging community leaders to help them develop more effective organisations and improve their understanding of where to go for support.

"This award will almost certainly have an impact on crime in the area as it will foster a sense of ownership in communities.

"For example, areas with tenants' associations that have graffiti projects can encourage residents to be more interested and involved in what's going on."

Alison Rowe, head of the South-East region of the Big Lottery Fund, said: "The 30 awards we are announcing today will make a real difference and reach out to those most in need and strengthen services that empower communities to achieve greater independence and improve their quality of life."

Other Sussex groups benefiting are: West Sussex Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Association (£107,802); National Schizophrenia Fellowship, based in Eastbourne and serving Brighton, Hove and Lewes (£153,571);

The Elephant Group, based in Brighton and Hove (£45,357).