A ST HELENS woman has won national recognition for her work supporting children and young people in care in the area.

Liz Dobson who runs the PSS Children's Rights Project in the town, has been appointed to the management committee of the Children's Rights Officers and Advocates Association, a leading national professional body in this field.

Liz, who hails from Glasgow but now lives in Rainford, has more than 20 years experience of working with young people and was with Barnardo's before joining the Liverpool-based PSS charity.

The Children's Rights Project supports all children and young people under the age of 18 who are looked after by the local authority in residential or foster care or living independently. It is quite separate from Social Services and gives young people the chance to have their say about the care system in the area. Its key objective is to get them involved in planning their futures by seeking their views on their day-to-day lives and how they can be improved.

The service also provides an advocate to support a young person who makes a complaint. In addition, volunteers are available to support young people who have lost touch with their families.

With other agencies, Liz also runs support groups for groups of children with specific needs, for example those leaving the care system and young disabled people.

She explained: "We provide the young people with a listening ear and a wide range of information, advice and support on a confidential, one-to-one basis. Because we are outside the care system they are more likely to come to us with their thoughts, suggestions and any problems they may have", she said.