YOUNG people in East Lancashire are taking part in a pilot project to give them more of a say in their religious education (RE).

The Youth SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education) is one of only a handful of groups in the country set up to create dialogue between young people of different faiths, and give them an insight into how RE is taught in schools.

It is an offshoot off Lancashire County Council's adult SACRE, which monitors and supports RE and worship in schools.

Every UK local authority is required by law to have a SACRE.

And the county council has selected East Lancashire as the region in which to pilot the scheme.

Its 20 members are from eight schools from Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, and represent several faith viewpoints including Christian, Muslim, agnostic and atheist.

Helen Harrison, Lancashire County Council's consultant for RE and collective worship who is officer to SACRE, said: "We want young people to understand how the RE curriculum works and how it can be relevant to the major issues in society today.

"We begin everything with a simple question, What does it mean to be human?' and then work from there, looking at what's important to people, why they do what they do, and for what reasons.

"It's a great way to share understanding of one another and also to have a lot of fun."

The young people have met twice so far in September and November and have chosen diversity within and among religions, and developing active learning and discussion in RE, as their initial topics for discussion. There are plans for more this term."

The Hollins Technology College, Accrington, pupil Lee Caldecott, 13, said: "I think the Youth SACRE is great because we get to put our views forward in issues that matter to us." Rachel Butterworth, also 13 and from The Hollins, added: "It's an ideal way of making sure all the community have a voice, and it's fun."

Terry Murnane, community faith co-ordinator at Burnley and Pendle Faith Centre where the meetings are held, said: "It's very important for young people to be in discussions, and there is now a real desire from them to be involved in such debate, which is very healthy."

The pilot came about when members of a sub-group of Lancashire SACRE, Youth Voice, decided they wanted young people to have more say on how religious education was taught in schools.

Planning took place during last summer after visits to Bradford's Youth SACRE and St Augustine's High in Oldham which hosts the Oldham Young People's Faith Forum.