UNEMPLOYED mothers can now develop their computer skills, secure in the knowledge that their children are being well looked after -- thanks to a new scheme at Ravenhead Foyer.

The free childcare service at Grosvenor Housing Association's Ravenhead Foyer is available to all adult learners with young children and is being run alongside a computer training course.

This has been developed to equip students with skills to impress potential employers and lead to the internationally-recognised qualification, the European Computer Driving Licence.

Ravenhead Foyer has been running the qualification since last August and courses are free to those who receive benefits. Courses include training in word-processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, desktop publishing and internet skills.

Karen Clarke, who successfully completed the course, said: "I'd started various courses in the past, but had never been able to finish them, mainly because of the problem of finding someone to look after my three-year old daughter, Shannon.

"So, for me, getting a recognised IT qualification was only made possible by the fact that Grosvenor's foyers offer this childcare facility and are fairly flexible about the speed with which you complete the course, making it easy to catch up if you miss a lesson."

Glen O'Hare, Ravenhead Foyer's Team Leader, who runs the course, added: "Some of the course students didn't even know how to switch a computer on when they arrived, so gaining a qualification that is well-respected by employers was a real boost to their confidence".