Three charities are celebrating after being awarded grants totalling more than £22,000.

Feltham Arts Association picked up £7,945 as part of the National Lottery's Awards for All scheme, with OutWest receiving £10,000 and the Hounslow-based Meditation & Relaxation Group getting £4,130.

Feltham Arts Assocation, based at Feltham Library, will use the money for a variety of classes aimed at breaking down cultural barriers.

These include multicultural music and reading sessions for mums and toddlers; street dancing, fashion and music techonology courses for youths and pottery, mosaic and sewing courses for adults.

The charity's programme manager Laura Ashby said: "We're delighted to receive the money for these courses, which we hope will encourage integration."

OutWest, the west-London based lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender charity, received the maximum award available.

The cash will help fund the 2nd West London LGBT conference at Ealing Town Hall on November 26 (free entry, call 020 8280 2233 or email jim@ealingcvs.org.uk for more information).

It will also be used to support the World Aids Day event on November 30 at West 5 bar in Ealing, including a performance from gay comedy duo Topping & Butch, being held to raise money for HIV charity The Food Chain.

The free event, which begins at 5pm, includes a raffle with prizes including an Eastenders script signed by June Brown, better known as Dot.

The Meditation & Relaxation Group, based in Hounslow, will use its grant to film and publish a free yoga and meditation DVD for those who cannot attend classes. It will also cover training for the group to help them produce the film.