A music and wellbeing initiative has received a huge financial boost.

Unknown Macc CIC, based at Proper Sound on Chestergate, has secured £20,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund.

This money will help the community project to expand its work, using music to address issues including social isolation and poor mental health.

Unknown Macc will use the funds to purchase its own vinyl and digital DJ decks and equipment, which will help deliver free group sessions and one-to-one DJ tuition for young people aged 11 to 25.

Founder, Lucie Wright, said: "Securing this funding is huge for us and, hopefully, for the community too.

"We've been building Unknown Macc gradually, running paid sessions alongside some funded places, and seeing first-hand the difference having a creative outlet can make.

"The National Lottery funding now gives us the opportunity to offer both free group sessions and one-to-one support on a much bigger scale and reach more of the young people we originally set the CIC up to help."

Unknown Macc is inviting local schools, charities, mental-health services, community organisations and other groups that work with young people who could benefit from the project to get in touch.

Individuals and families can also approach the CIC directly, without needing to come through an organisation or formal referral.

"We really want people to approach us," Lucie added.

"You don't need any DJ experience and you don't need to arrive full of confidence.

"If you're aged 11 to 25 and feel music could give you an outlet, something positive to focus on or a way of connecting with other people, we'd love to hear from you."

The project has already sparked new interests among some of the young people attending.

After taking part in the summer DJ club, Josh's mum told Unknown Macc that on returning to school in September, he changed one of his GCSE options to music.

For Lucie, it was a clear example of why the project matters.

"Josh changing his GCSE option after the summer club was brilliant to hear. You never really know where giving somebody the opportunity to try something new might lead," she said.

There are also opportunities developing for students to take what they learn beyond the classroom.

Unknown Macc is currently involved in two collaborations with Macclesfield Town Council, one taking place in October and another in December.

The December collaboration will give four students the opportunity to showcase their DJ skills, giving them a real event to build towards.

Lucie added: "They're already excited about December. I love seeing the joy DJing brings people, but being able to give students something real to work towards makes it even better. I'm excited to see where all of this goes."

Alongside the new National Lottery-funded programme, Unknown Macc will continue to run its separate paid programme, with the income helping the CIC become more sustainable and supporting its wider community work.

The next £20 DJ taster sessions will take place in October for ages 16+, followed by the next paid course in November, with both digital and vinyl DJing available.

While much of the CIC's funded work focuses on younger people, the paid programme has attracted a much broader age range, with the tasters and courses proving particularly popular with people in their 40s and 50s, an important part of what Lucie is trying to build.

She said: "There's a benefit at any age in doing something you enjoy, learning something new and having time that's just for you.

"The other lovely thing about choosing to do it with a CIC is that the money doesn't disappear out of the project.

"Our paid sessions help us keep developing Unknown Macc and put money back into our community work.

"So people can come and learn something they've always wanted to try, enjoy themselves, and indirectly help us create opportunities for other people at the same time."

The National Lottery award marks the next stage for the CIC, with the DJ project just one part of its longer-term plans.

Other projects connected to Ian Curtis, Macclesfield's music heritage and wellbeing are also being developed in the background, with more information to be announced as they progress.

Anyone interested in the free National Lottery-funded group sessions or one-to-one tuition for ages 11 to 25, or local organisations interested in referring or working with the project, can contact Unknown Macc directly.