AN investigation into racism in Cheshire schools has been funded by the Big Lottery.

The research will be conducted by the Cheshire Halton and Warrington Race and Equality Centre.

It has received a cash injection of over £300,000 for the project.

The money was awarded to combat the ‘growing concerns’ about levels of racism across 60 schools in the area as part of the Black and Minority Ethnic Communities (BME) programme.

The three year investigation, operated in accordance with Manchester Metropolitan University, is expected to benefit around 1,300 young people in schools and will form part of a wider £900,000 BME grant that will fund four projects in total, nationwide.

The research in Warrington aims to ‘create an evidence base to plan future education focusing on increased community cohesion.’ Big Lottery set up its research programme, that will invest £20million in 56 project across the country, to analyse social issues. Other areas to be scrutinised will be exercise helping prevent obesity, Pakistani women learning English as a second language and racism in football.

Chief executive of the Big Lottery Fund Peter Wanless said: “The research projects are great examples of how charities are leading the way to help break down barriers faced by BME communitites.”