IWM North, part of Imperial War Museums in Trafford, has received a £528,700 Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant that will be used for a new volunteer initiative that aims to measure the impact of volunteering on health and well being.

IWM North, which is working in partnership with Manchester Museum, part of The University of Manchester, will roll out a three-year project entitled Improving Futures: Volunteering For Wellbeing.

The project is a social learning programme, which uses the heritage assets of IWM North, Manchester Museum, Museum of Science and Industry and other partner venues to help volunteers move away from social and economic isolation.

It is the first major project to measure the impact of responsible volunteering in the heritage sector on health and wellbeing, while exploring how it can combat social and economic isolation.

The project aims to provide personal development opportunities to those who need help reintegrating into society.

More than 225 people from a diverse range of backgrounds - including people between the ages of 16-25 and over 50 years old, as well as ex-service personnel - will be given the chance to become volunteers and benefit from a bespoke training programme accredited by The Manchester College.

They will get the chance to work with some of the most prestigious heritage venues in the North West, including the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester City Galleries, People's History Museum, Manchester Jewish Museum, Dunham Massey and Ordsall Hall.

A spokesperson for IWM North said: "These venues in turn will be able to cultivate a valuable volunteer base that will enhance the visitor experience and provide access and interpretation to the collections."

Manchester Museum and IWM North hope the project will demonstrate benefits to volunteers, museums and society.