GREATER Manchester's Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has welcomed a new campaign to give people lessons on how to save lives.

The LSC is backing a new initiative to bring life-saving first-aid skills to more people than ever before.

A new national campaign will make learning first-aid easier than ever before, even for those who do not want, or unable, to attend courses outside the home.

Locally, the campaign was launched at the Trafford Centre, Manchester. The target is to recruit 20,000 more adults to learn first-aid across England by March.

More than 4,000 people die from accidents in the home each year and another three million end up in their local accident and emergency department. But it is the first few minutes following an accident that can be the most critical, before the ambulance arrives.

People can now learn on-line with the BBC's First-Aid Action website, or learn practical skills at British Red Cross or St John Ambulance centres throughout Greater Manchester.

And, for a limited period, learners can have their skills checked and receive a First-Aid Action certificate for just £10 at one of these centres, thanks to funding from the Learning and Skills Council.

The certificate can also count towards a National Vocational Qualification. Information about both is available on 0800 077 077.

Liz Davis, Greater Manchester LSC executive director, said: "First-aid is something we may all need one day.

"This exciting new initiative is a wonderful way to encourage more people into learning. It is relevant to everyone. It does not have a traditional learning image and success is easy to achieve."

She added: "Its will give thousands of people the chance to take part in, and enjoy, learning. We are particularly keen to help people who left school with few qualifications and have not had the chance or the courage to do more.

"By encouraging people to do a short one-off course, we hope to inspire them to go on to gain skills in the future.

"The more successes people have," she went on, "the more likely they are to go on and learn other things."

The Learning and Skills Council was established last April and is responsible for the planning and funding of all post-16 education and training, excluding higher education.